I (Almost) Got Away with It (2010–2016): Season 1, Episode 12 - Got a Gun Made of Toilet Paper - full transcript
Kerry Silvers was facing 55 years in the slammer for robbery and battery, so he decided to escape. Along with two other prisoners they overpowered a few guards and were able to calmly walk out of prison.
Narrator: A PRISONER
MASTERMINDS A DARING JAIL BREAK.
I THOUGHT HE MIGHT HAVE TAKEN
MY LIFE TO GET AWAY.
Narrator: KERRY SILVERS
GIVES POLICE THE SLIP
AND FLEES TO MEXICO.
THEN HE JUST DISAPPEARED
OFF THE FACE OF THE EARTH.
Narrator:
HE BUILDS A NEW LIFE,
BUT HIS SUCCESS
PUTS HIM IN THE SPOTLIGHT.
MY NAME IS SEÑOR...
WHICH IS NOT WHAT A FUGITIVE
WANTS TO DO.
Narrator: OUTSMARTING SILVERS
WILL NOT BE EASY.
HE HAD A 2 1/2-YEAR
HEAD START ON US.
KERRY SILVERS,
WE KNOW WHO YOU ARE.
Narrator: CRIMINALS SOMETIMES
TRY TO ESCAPE FROM JUSTICE.
THIS IS THE STORY OF HOW ONE MAN
ALMOST GOT AWAY WITH IT.
CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY
DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS
APRIL 18, 2002.
THE ORANGE COUNTY JAIL
IN PAOLI, INDIANA.
28-YEAR-OLD KERRY SILVERS
IS SERVING A 61-YEAR SENTENCE
FOR ROBBERY, BURGLARY,
AND DRUG POSSESSION.
HE HAS SPENT ALL BUT
A FEW MONTHS OF HIS ADULT LIFE
BEHIND BARS.
NUMBER 3.
BUT THAT IS ABOUT TO CHANGE.
WHILE BEING LED BACK
TO HIS CELL,
SILVERS AND TWO OTHER INMATES
OVERPOWER A JAIL GUARD...
I'LL FIGHT YOU...
...AND THREATEN HIM
WITH A MAKESHIFT KNIFE.
THEY COME OUT, THEY GRABBED HIM,
THEY PUT IT UP TO HIS THROAT,
AND TOLD HIM THEY'D BASICALLY
CUT HIS THROAT.
GET THE KEY.
Narrator: THEY CUFF THE GUARD
TO THE CELL BARS...
GO, GO.
...AND HEAD DOWNSTAIRS
TO THE DISPATCH OFFICE.
Shepherd: I HEARD A KEY
GET PUT IN THE DOOR
AND THE KEY GET TURNED.
I ASSUMED IT WAS
ONE OF THE JAIL OFFICERS.
Narrator:
DISPATCHER DOUG SHEPHERD
IS ON DUTY WITH ANOTHER OFFICER.
THEY'RE BOTH TAKEN
COMPLETELY BY SURPRISE.
HANDS UP.
HANDS UP.
PUT THE PHONE DOWN --
THE PHONE DOWN.
Shepherd:
SILVERS PRODUCED WHAT APPEARED
TO BE A SEMIAUTOMATIC PISTOL.
Narrator:
THE GUN IS ACTUALLY A FAKE
THAT SILVERS SECRETLY MADE
OVER SEVERAL DAYS.
I DECIDED TO MAKE A FAKE GUN
USING WET TOILET PAPER --
KIND OF LIKE PAPER-MACHE --
AND THEN USING SOAP
TO GLOSS IT UP
AND BLACK MAGIC MARKER TO PAINT
IT TO MAKE IT LOOK REALISTIC.
OFFICER SHEPHERD IS ARMED
BUT DOESN'T HAVE TIME TO ACT.
Shepherd: I HAD A SPLIT SECOND
TO REALIZE IF I PULLED,
HE COULD FIRE FIRST,
AND I'D CERTAINLY BE DEAD.
BEFORE I COULD GO FOR MY WEAPON,
THEY WERE ON ME.
I WAS SHOVED TO THE FLOOR.
I WAS RELIEVED OF MY WEAPON.
Narrator: SILVERS KNOWS
IT'S JUST A MATTER OF MINUTES
BEFORE ANOTHER GUARD SEES THEM.
HE STARTS TO PANIC.
Shepherd:
MR. SILVERS WAS WANTING TO KNOW
WHERE MY HANDCUFFS WERE AT.
I TOLD HIM I DIDN'T HAVE
ANY CUFFS ON ME THAT NIGHT.
IT SEEMED LIKE IT UPSET HIM
QUITE A BIT.
HE PUT MY WEAPON TO MY HEAD
AND AGAIN ASKED ME
WHERE MY CUFFS WERE AT.
Silvers:
I WAS TRYING TO MAKE MYSELF
APPEAR TO LOOK VERY HYPED UP
LIKE ANYTHING'S POSSIBLE,
"DON'T CROSS ME," YOU KNOW.
"I'LL SHOOT YOU RIGHT NOW."
YOU KNOW, "I'M DESPERATE."
GIVE ME YOUR HANDCUFFS.
Shepherd: THE GUN WAS AROUND
TOWARD THE RIGHT SIDE.
IT WASN'T RIGHT IN THE BACK,
AND I COULD SEE
HIS FINGERS SQUEEZING.
AT THAT POINT,
I THOUGHT HE MIGHT HAVE
TAKEN MY LIFE TO GET AWAY.
Narrator:
THE CLOCK IS TICKING.
THE THREE INMATES NEED TO ACT
FAST BEFORE THEY ARE DISCOVERED.
Shepherd: THEN HE PUT
MY HANDS BEHIND MY HEAD
AND TOOK ME OUT
AROUND IN THE HALLWAY
AND TOOK ME BACK
INTO THE BOOKING HALLWAY AREA.
EDDIE AND MYSELF WERE PUT
INTO THE HOLDING CELL
WITH A COUPLE PRISONERS
THAT WERE ALREADY IN THERE.
Narrator:
SILVERS AND HIS BUDDIES
RACE OUT OF THE CELLBLOCK.
COME ON. LET'S GET OUT!
LET'S GO!
BUT THEY ONLY GET
A FIVE-MINUTE HEAD START.
THERE'S A SET OF KEYS
DOWN THERE. GO GRAB THE KEYS.
Shepherd: ONE OF THE INMATE
WORKERS CAME BACK THERE
AND ASKED IF THERE'S ANYTHING
HE COULD DO TO HELP US.
Narrator: ONCE HE'S FREE,
SHEPHERD ALERTS AUTHORITIES
ABOUT THE ESCAPE.
Shepherd:
I STARTED DOING MY JOB.
I PUT THE WORD OUT TO EVERYONE.
WE NEED A LOCKDOWN
RIGHT NOW.
I WAS BASICALLY TRYING
TO GET NOTIFICATIONS MADE
AND GET US AS MUCH HELP IN
AS POSSIBLE.
Narrator: MIKE DIXON
IS A FORMER DETECTIVE
WITH THE ORANGE COUNTY
SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT.
HE ARRIVES AT THE JAIL
AND IS IMMEDIATELY
PUT IN COMMAND OF THE MANHUNT.
OKAY, WE'RE MOVING OUT.
MEANWHILE,
SILVERS AND THE OTHER INMATES
SEIZE AN OPPORTUNITY
TO GET OUT OF TOWN.
Dixon: THERE WAS A HOUSE
LOCATED JUST EAST OF THE JAIL.
THE PEOPLE WERE SITTING
OUT ON THE PORCH.
HEY, GIVE ME THE MONEY!
THEY TRIED TO GET THESE PEOPLE
TO GIVE THEM MONEY
AND GO WITH THEM AS HOSTAGES.
DON'T MOVE!
UGH!
I THINK IT'S HIS HEART!
GUYS...
THE MAN AT THAT LOCATION
FAKED A HEART ATTACK,
AND SO THEY JUST LEFT.
Narrator: THE THREE MEN
SPEED OFF INTO THE COUNTRY.
STAY DOWN, OLD MAN.
THEY HAVE NO IDEA
WHETHER OR NOT THE COPS
ARE ON THEIR TRAIL.
Silvers: ALMOST IMMEDIATELY,
WE COME TO A "T,"
AND THERE'S A COP SITTING THERE,
AND I'M LIKE, "JUST BE COOL.
"TURN THE TURN SIGNALS ON...
DRIVE SAFELY, CALMLY,"
AND WE GOT PAST HIM.
[ POLICE RADIO CHATTER ]
Narrator: A WOMAN LIVING
JUST OUTSIDE OF TOWN
HELPS POINT THE COPS
IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
SHE HEARS AN ALL POINTS BULLETIN
ON HER POLICE SCANNER
AND CALLS IN.
HELLO, POLICE?
I JUST SAW THE S.U.V....
SHE SAYS A CAR
MATCHING THE DESCRIPTION
OF THE STOLEN VEHICLE
IS HEADING EAST
TOWARD THE NEXT COUNTY.
Shepherd: I STARTED
PUTTING THAT OUT ON THE AIR.
MY OTHER HAND WAS BUSY
DIALING THE PHONE
TO START CALLING EVERYBODY IN.
Narrator: WITHIN MINUTES,
A POLICE SQUADRON ZOOMS
TOWARD WASHINGTON COUNTY.
[ SIREN WAILS ]
THE THREE INMATES KEEP HEADING
EAST AND PASS ANOTHER COP CAR.
THIS TIME, THEY'RE NOT SO LUCKY.
Silvers: THE BRAKE LIGHTS
IMMEDIATELY FLASH ON,
AND I COULD SEE HE'S LOOKING
FOR A PLACE TO TURN AROUND.
SO I TELL MY ACCOMPLICE,
I'M LIKE,
"HEY, GET OFF OF THE ROAD..."
GO, GO, GO, GO, GO.
"...GET BEHIND SOMETHING --
A GARAGE, A HOUSE, SOMETHING."
...SUSPECT VEHICLE
HEADED SOUTHBOUND...
BEFORE WE COULD
GET AROUND THIS BARN,
THE COP IS ALREADY BACK,
AND HE SEEN US.
Narrator: THE MEN DECIDE
TO MAKE A RUN FOR IT ON FOOT.
[ SIREN CONTINUES ]
BUT SILVERS CAN'T KEEP UP.
Silvers: I'D BEEN IN JAIL
FOR ALMOST FOUR YEARS,
AND I'D GAINED A LOT OF WEIGHT.
WE COME UP TO THE BASE
OF THIS GIANT HILL,
AND MY FRIENDS ARE LIKE,
"LET'S GO," YOU KNOW,
AND I STARTED UP IT, AND I JUST
DON'T -- I DON'T HAVE IT.
I WORE OUT VERY QUICKLY.
Narrator: THE POLICE OFFICER
RADIOS FOR BACKUP.
WITHIN MINUTES,
THE SQUADRON ARRIVES
AND SETS OFF AFTER THE MEN.
THEY'RE DANGEROUS.
THEY'RE DESPERATE.
KEEP YOUR HEADS UP.
Dixon:
THEY DIDN'T GET ANY TIME.
THEY WAS PROBABLY NO MORE THAN
A HALF-MILE FROM US, IF THAT,
AND IT WAS JUST A COIN'S TOSS
OF WHETHER YOU CAUGHT THEM
OR WHETHER YOU DIDN'T.
THE INMATES REALIZE THE POLICE
ARE CLOSING IN ON THEM.
THEY TEAR THROUGH THE BRUSH
UP THE HILL,
BUT SILVERS IS WINDED
AND LAGS BEHIND.
COME ON, MAN!
WE NEED YOU!
Silvers: I'M LIKE, "WELL,
YOU GUYS GO AHEAD," YOU KNOW.
"IT'S OVER FOR ME."
COME ON, MAN!
SO THEY RUN ON UP THE HILL.
THIS POSSE STARTS TO COME UP
FROM BEHIND ME.
YOU KNOW, I CAN HEAR THE DOGS
BARKING AND WHATNOT.
Narrator:
SILVERS MUSTERS UP WHAT LITTLE
STRENGTH HE'S GOT TO PUSH ON.
THE COPS DON'T KNOW WHAT SILVERS
IS CAPABLE OF DOING IF CORNERED.
I HAD THE DRIVE OF KNOWING
THAT MY LIFE WAS ON THE LINE.
I'M JUST TERRIFIED.
Dixon: ANY TIME ANYBODY
GOES TO THOSE EXTREMES TO ESCAPE
AND STEALS A WEAPON,
THERE'S A REAL GOOD CHANCE
THAT THEY'RE GONNA BE ARMED
AND YOU'RE NOT GONNA
TAKE THEM ALIVE.
Narrator: SILVERS RUSHES DOWN
THE HILL AND REACHES THE ROAD,
ONLY TO FIND
A LINE OF POLICE CARS.
HE'S TRAPPED.
I FIGURED, "WELL, I MIGHT AS
WELL JUST STEP OUT INTO THE ROAD
"WITH MY HANDS IN THE AIR,
ALLOW MYSELF TO BE CUFFED
AND TAKEN INTO CUSTODY."
Narrator:
SILVERS SLOWLY SURRENDERS...
THEN MAKES
A SURPRISING DISCOVERY.
Silvers: I SUDDENLY REALIZED
THERE'S NO ONE AROUND,
NOT A SOUL IN SIGHT.
THEY'RE OFF CONFINING THEIR
SEARCH TO THIS SIDE OF THE ROAD,
SO I WENT AHEAD AND SCARED ON
OFF THE ROAD INTO THE BRUSH.
Narrator: SILVERS
IS PANICKED AND EXHAUSTED,
BUT HE KNOWS
HE'S GOT TO KEEP GOING.
I COME UP ON THIS CLEARING.
I HAVE NO IDEA WHERE I'M AT.
I DECIDED I NEEDED TO FIND
A PLACE TO BED DOWN.
I'D SEEN A BIG THORNBUSH
RIGHT BESIDE THE ROAD,
AND I DECIDED TO TRY TO BURROW
MY WAY INSIDE THIS THING.
IT WAS VERY PAINFUL --
BIG, SHARP THORNS,
AND I ENDED UP FALLING ASLEEP.
Narrator: WHILE SILVERS LAYS LOW
IN THE WOODS,
LUCK RUNS OUT
FOR HIS TWO ACCOMPLICES.
RIGHT BEHIND US!
THE POLICE
HAVE CLOSED IN ON THEM.
FREEZE!
HANDS IN THE AIR.
Dixon:
THEY HAD STOLEN A CELLPHONE,
AND WE WERE MONITORING
THE CELLPHONE TRAFFIC
FROM THE DIFFERENT TOWERS
IT WAS HITTING ON,
AND IT FINALLY ENDED UP
IN COLUMBUS.
WE NOTIFIED
THE COLUMBUS POLICE DEPARTMENT,
AND THEY WERE ABLE TO LOCATE
TWO OF THE FUGITIVES.
[ SPEAKING INDISTINCTLY ]
KERRY WASN'T WITH THEM.
Narrator:
SILVERS KEEPS MOVING.
HE WANDERS
THROUGH THE COUNTRYSIDE
WITHOUT FOOD OR WATER
OR KNOWING WHERE HE IS.
HE ALSO HAS NO IDEA WHETHER
THE COPS ARE CLOSING IN ON HIM.
Silvers: THERE'S THE ANXIETY.
"WHERE AM I GONNA GO?
"I HAVE NO MONEY. I'M BEING
HUNTED BY POLICE POSSES.
I'M DYING OF THIRST."
I SAID QUITE A FEW PRAYERS.
Narrator: FINALLY,
SILVERS GETS A LUCKY BREAK.
Silvers: I FOUND A VEHICLE
THAT HAD THE KEYS IN IT.
IT WAS ONE OF THOSE
CRIMES OF NECESSITY.
[ ENGINE TURNS OVER ]
I ENDED UP MAKING MY WAY
TO LOUISVILLE.
IT WAS THE CLOSEST MAJOR CITY.
Narrator: SILVERS DRIVES AN HOUR
SOUTH TO LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY.
DIXON HERE.
ALL RIGHT.
Narrator: ORANGE COUNTY POLICE
GET A TIP ABOUT A STOLEN CAR
CLOSE TO THE SEARCH AREA.
THEY HAVE A HUNCH
SILVERS IS THE CULPRIT
AND LAUNCH A FULL-SCALE MANHUNT
TO FIND HIM.
Dixon:
WE TRACKED THAT CAR TO KENTUCKY.
WE KNEW OF A RELATIONSHIP
HE HAD WITH PEOPLE IN KENTUCKY.
Narrator: AS SILVERS HEADS
TOWARD LOUISVILLE,
REALITY SETS IN.
IF HE GETS CAUGHT,
HE WILL LIKELY NEVER SEE
THE OUTSIDE OF A PRISON AGAIN.
Silvers:
I'M HAVING PANIC ATTACKS...
...ANXIETY ATTACKS -- I MEAN,
JUST WHERE YOU FEEL LIKE,
YOU KNOW, YOU'RE GONNA DIE, AND
IT'S GONNA HAPPEN VERY QUICKLY,
AND THERE'S NOTHING YOU CAN DO
TO STOP IT.
YOU'RE TRAPPED,
YOU CAN'T BREATHE,
AND THE WALLS ARE CLOSING IN.
Narrator: IT'S BEEN 18 HOURS
SINCE THE JAILBREAK.
NOW THAT SILVERS IS BELIEVED
TO BE FLEEING THE STATE,
HE IS OFFICIALLY CONSIDERED
A FUGITIVE.
Dixon:
ALL THE WARRANTS AND EVERYTHING
HAD BEEN PUT IN THE NATIONAL
CRIME INFORMATION COMPUTER
AND THE INDIANA CRIME COMPUTERS
AND EVERYTHING.
A FUGITIVE WARRANT WAS ISSUED
AFTER HE LEFT
THE STATE OF INDIANA.
Narrator:
SILVERS GETS TO LOUISVILLE.
HE FIGURES HIS GETAWAY CAR
HAS BEEN REPORTED STOLEN BY NOW.
SO HE LEAVES IT IN THE PARKING
LOT OF AN APARTMENT BUILDING.
Silvers: I DITCHED IT
OUTSIDE AN APARTMENT COMPLEX,
AND I WIPED IT DOWN.
AND I WAS TRYING TO GET SOMEONE
TO CALL A TAXI FOR ME.
I KNOCKED
ON A FEW DIFFERENT DOORS.
I GUESS MAYBE A BUNCH OF ELDERLY
PEOPLE LIVED HERE OR SOMETHING.
THEY WERE VERY SCARED
OF A YOUNG GUY BEING OUTSIDE
IN THEIR PARKING LOT.
AND ALL OF A SUDDEN,
I SEE TWO COP CARS
ROLLING DOWN THE STREET
TOWARD ME.
SO I HURRIED UP AND DITCHED
IN THIS LITTLE CUBBYHOLE
IN BETWEEN THE APARTMENTS
SO THE COPS COULDN'T SEE ME.
Narrator: SILVERS IS TERRIFIED
THAT COPS WILL FIND HIM
AND SEND HIM BACK TO JAIL.
Silvers: I'M HUNKERED DOWN
BEHIND A TRUCK,
AND I'M JUST HUNKERED DOWN,
RIGHT,
HOPING THEY CAN'T SEE MY LEGS
UNDERNEATH THIS TRUCK.
Narrator:
SILVERS WATCHES ANXIOUSLY.
THE COPS CIRCLE THE PARKING LOT
AND INCH CLOSER TO HIM.
Narrator: APRIL 2002.
HANDS UP.
PUT THE PHONE DOWN.
KERRY SILVERS IS ON THE RUN
AFTER A DARING ESCAPE
FROM AN INDIANA JAIL.
HE'S MADE IT 60 MILES AWAY
TO AN APARTMENT COMPLEX
IN LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY.
BUT POLICE
ARE CLOSING IN ON HIM.
I'M JUST HUNKERED DOWN, RIGHT,
HOPING THEY CAN'T SEE MY LEGS
UNDERNEATH THIS TRUCK,
AND IT KEEPS GOING.
THE CAR GOES ON, BUT I SEE
THEY'RE CIRCLING AROUND.
Narrator:
AS THE COP CARS REACH THE
OTHER END OF THE PARKING LOT,
SILVERS SEES HIS CHANCE.
HE RUNS OUT OF THE LOT
AND DOWN AN ALLEY.
Silvers: I ENDED UP FINDING,
LIKE, THIS OLD GARAGE,
AND THE DOOR WAS OPEN,
AND IT HAD --
I COULD SEE IT HAD A LOFT,
A SECOND STORY.
AND THERE WAS ALL THIS JUNK
AND STUFF.
I WAS LAYING UP IN THAT LOFT
AND JUST SCARED --
TERRIFIED THAT THEY WOULD --
OF HEARING SOMETHING DOWN
AT THE DOOR OF THAT GARAGE --
SOMEBODY OPEN THE DOOR,
'CAUSE IT WOULD BE ALL OVER.
Narrator:
SILVERS IS AFRAID THAT BY NOW,
THE INDIANA COPS MAY HAVE
TRACKED HIM TO LOUISVILLE.
HE MAKES THE MUSTY LOFT
HIS TEMPORARY HOME.
Silvers: FOR SIX DAYS,
I HID IN THAT LOFT,
AND DURING THE NIGHT,
LIKE, AT 1:00 IN THE MORNING,
I'D SNEAK OUT AND I'D GET WATER.
I HAD FOUND
SOME OLD MATCHES AND STUFF,
AND I BOILED SOME OF THIS WATER
AND DRANK IT.
IT MADE ME SICK, BUT IT
WAS WATER. I KEPT IT DOWN.
THAT HAD BEEN THE ONLY WATER
THAT I HAD HAD SINCE THE ESCAPE.
Narrator: MEANWHILE,
ORANGE COUNTY POLICE GET A TIP.
SOMEONE MATCHING
SILVERS' DESCRIPTION
HAS BEEN SPOTTED DRIVING ACROSS
THE BORDER TO KENTUCKY
IN A STOLEN CAR.
ONCE WE WAS ABLE TO FIND OUT
THAT LOUISVILLE
HAD LOCATED THE VEHICLE
IN AN APARTMENT COMPLEX
PARKING LOT DOWN THERE,
A STATE POLICE OFFICER
AND MYSELF WENT DOWN THERE
AND PROCESSED THAT VEHICLE,
WHERE WE FOUND
KERRY'S FINGERPRINTS
AND DETERMINED THAT HE WAS,
IN FACT,
THE ONE THAT HAD STOLEN IT.
Narrator: AFTER ALMOST A WEEK
OF HIDING IN THE LOFT,
SILVERS EMERGES.
AND ALMOST IMMEDIATELY,
DESPERATION SETS IN.
HE HAS NO MONEY,
NO FOOD, AND NO PLAN.
HE DOES HAVE
ONE FAINT RAY OF HOPE.
I HAD ENDED UP COMING IN CONTACT
WITH DISTANT RELATIVES.
I'M KERRY SILVERS.
I WAS HONEST WITH THEM.
I TOLD THEM THE WHOLE STORY,
WHO I WAS,
AND WHAT WAS GOING ON,
AND BASICALLY PUT MY FUTURE
AND MY LIFE IN THEIR HANDS.
...ESCAPED AGAIN...
Narrator: SILVERS' RELATIVES
LET HIM MOVE IN.
HE BEGINS TO SETTLE
INTO A NEW LIFE
WHILE KEEPING
A LOW PROFILE.
FAMILY'S FAMILY.
Silvers: I ENDED UP GETTING
A JOB FOR A VENDING COMPANY
STOCKING POP MACHINES,
SODA MACHINES.
I WAS REAL INTENT ON CHANGING MY
IDENTITY AS QUICKLY AS I COULD.
MY ALIAS IN LOUISVILLE I CHOSE
WAS JUSTIN AND CASE --
JUSTIN CASE --
MOSTLY FOR THE HUMOR OF IT.
Narrator: SILVERS' ATTEMPT
TO BUILD A LIFE IN LOUISVILLE
IS SHORT-LIVED.
Silvers:
ONE OF THE DISTANT RELATIVES
THAT I STAYED WITH SOME
WAS CLOSE FRIENDS
WITH A LIEUTENANT
AT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT
THERE IN LOUISVILLE.
I GOT A WARNING
THROUGH THIS LIEUTENANT
AT THE LOUISVILLE
POLICE DEPARTMENT...
YOU HAVE GOT TO GET HIM
OUT OF TOWN.
...THAT THEY WERE BEING TOLD
TO GO AND LOOK FOR ME.
I HAD TO LEAVE.
I JUST -- YOU KNOW, I HAD
A LITTLE BIT OF MONEY SAVED UP,
AND I RENTED A HOTEL
JUST OUTSIDE THE CITY
FOR A COUPLE DAYS
WHILE I TRIED TO FIGURE OUT
WHAT MY NEXT PLAY WOULD BE.
Narrator:
SILVERS FEARS THE POLICE
ARE CLOSE TO CATCHING HIM.
SO HE DECIDES TO HEAD SOUTH.
Silvers:
I WALKED INTO A BUS STATION...
ONE-WAY TICKET --
NEW ORLEANS.
...AND WALKED UP TO THE COUNTER
AND SAID,
"LET ME HAVE A TICKET ONE-WAY
FOR NEW ORLEANS."
I CHOSE NEW ORLEANS BECAUSE
SOMEWHERE ALONG THE LINE,
I HAD READ THAT NEW ORLEANS
WAS THE MURDER CAPITAL
OF THE COUNTRY,
AND SO I FIGURED WITH THOSE TYPE
OF SERIOUS CRIMES IN PLAY,
SOMEBODY LIKE ME
THAT WAS JUST AN AVERAGE JOE
WOULD BE ABLE TO SLIDE
UNDER THE RADAR.
Narrator:
SILVERS ARRIVES IN THE BIG EASY.
ONCE AGAIN, HE HAS TO REINVENT
HIMSELF TO STAY UNDER THE RADAR.
Silvers:
WHENEVER I WOULD CHANGE CITIES,
I WOULD TRY TO CHANGE MY
APPEARANCE AS MUCH AS I COULD.
I WAS CONSTANTLY LOSING WEIGHT,
SO I WAS CHANGING
THE APPEARANCE OF MY FACE.
I WOULD EVEN TRY
TO DRESS DIFFERENTLY.
I'D ADOPT A DIFFERENT,
YOU KNOW, PERSONA.
I GOT A JOB THERE
WORKING IN A RESTAURANT
AS A SOUS CHEF IN TRAINING
AND REALLY FELL IN LOVE
WITH THE CULTURE THERE.
Narrator:
SILVERS' CHARMING PERSONALITY
AND FRIENDLY DEMEANOR
HELP HIM FIT IN
AND MAKE FRIENDS IN NEW ORLEANS.
STILL, HE FEELS THE NEED TO
CONSTANTLY WATCH HIS EVERY STEP.
Silvers: WHENEVER I WOULD SEE
A POLICE OFFICER,
MY INSIDES WOULD JUST CRINGE --
YOU KNOW, FEAR.
I WOULD ALMOST BE PARALYZED
WITH FEAR --
YOU KNOW,
FEARFUL TO MAKE EYE CONTACT.
"ARE THEY COMING FOR ME?
IS THIS IT?"
Narrator: SEPTEMBER 2002.
IT'S BEEN ALMOST SIX MONTHS
SINCE KERRY SILVERS BROKE OUT
OF JAIL FOR THE SECOND TIME.
[ SILVERS BREATHING HEAVILY ]
ORANGE COUNTY INVESTIGATORS
HAVE NO NEW LEADS.
THEIR ONLY HOPE IS THAT SILVERS
WILL MAKE CONTACT
WITH ONE OF HIS RELATIVES.
Dixon: I MADE SEVERAL TRIPS
UP TO LAWRENCE COUNTY
TO INTERVIEW FAMILY AND FRIENDS,
YOU KNOW,
TO SEE IF ANYBODY
HAD HEARD FROM HIM.
HIS FAMILY WAS REAL HARD
TO GET INFORMATION OUT OF.
THEY WAS DOING EVERYTHING
THEY COULD TO PROTECT HIM.
Narrator: WITH NO OTHER
INFORMATION TO GO ON,
THE CASE GOES COLD.
IT BECOMES MORE FRUSTRATING
BECAUSE THEN HE JUST DISAPPEARED
OFF THE FACE OF THE EARTH
FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME,
AND THERE WAS NO WAY TO KNOW
WHICH WAY HE WAS GOING OR --
OR WHERE HE MIGHT BE HEADED.
THE FACT THAT KERRY
WAS SO INTELLIGENT
PROBABLY MADE
THE INVESTIGATION HARDER
BECAUSE, UNLIKE MOST CRIMINALS,
HE KEPT A LOW PROFILE,
NEVER GOT IN ANY TROUBLE.
IT MADE THE JOB TOUGH.
Narrator: IN OCTOBER 2002,
SILVERS HAS ANOTHER CLOSE CALL
THAT FORCES HIM TO UPROOT
HIS LIFE AND MOVE ON.
ONE EVENING,
THE RESTAURANT GOT ROBBED.
THE POLICE WANT TO INTERVIEW
EVERYBODY THAT WORKS THERE,
AND, OF COURSE, I CAN'T DO THAT.
'CAUSE I THINK
IT'S AN INSIDE JOB.
THAT'S WHAT WE THINK.
SO WHEN THE POLICE WANTED ME
TO COME IN AND BE QUESTIONED,
I DECIDED I HAD TO LEAVE.
I WENT INTO A BUS STATION
AND GOT A BUS TICKET
TO BROWNSVILLE, TEXAS,
WHICH IS A BORDER TOWN.
Narrator: SILVERS FIGURES
HE HAS A BETTER CHANCE
OF KEEPING HIS IDENTITY
A SECRET IN MEXICO.
BUT GETTING THERE MAY BE
A REAL CHALLENGE.
Silvers: I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT
I WAS GONNA HAVE TO GO THROUGH
TO GET INTO MEXICO.
I DIDN'T HAVE AN I.D.,
A PASSPORT, OR ANYTHING.
SO I'M THINKING, IF NECESSARY,
I'LL BUY ME A RAFT,
AND I'LL LAUNCH OFF
ON SOUTH PADRE ISLAND,
CATCH THE TIDES,
AND GET OUT AROUND AND COME IN
ON THE MEXICO SIDE.
I'M TRYING TO FIND MY WAY
DOWN SOUTH.
I'M IN THE BUS STATION, AND SOME
LONG-HAIRED GUY COMES UP TO ME.
HE STARTS TALKING TO ME.
AND COME TO FIND OUT
YOU DON'T HAVE TO DO ANYTHING.
HE SAID, "YOU GOT TO PUT
LIKE 50 CENTS OR SOMETHING
IN THIS TURNSTILE
AND PASS THROUGH."
SO THAT'S HOW I ENTERED MEXICO.
I PICKED UP MY BAGS
AND WALKED ACROSS THIS BRIDGE.
AND THAT WAS
A VERY EMOTIONAL MOMENT,
THINKING IT WOULD BE THE
LAST TIME I'D GET TO
SEE MY NATIVE LAND.
[ WHISTLE BLOWS ]
Narrator: SILVERS ARRIVES
IN THE TOWN OF MATAMOROS,
BUT HE DOESN'T INTEND
TO SETTLE HERE.
HE'S GOT A LONG-RANGE PLAN
THAT WOULD GUARANTEE HIM
LIFELONG FREEDOM.
Silvers: IF A FUGITIVE
MAKES IT TO BRAZIL
AND GETS MARRIED
AND HAS A CHILD,
THEY ARE NOW BEYOND EXTRADITION
TO ANY COUNTRY FOR ANYTHING.
MY GOAL WAS TO MAKE IT TO BRAZIL
AND START A NEW LIFE.
Narrator: SILVERS' HOPES
ARE QUICKLY DASHED.
Silvers:
MATAMOROS IS A COASTAL CITY,
BUT THERE'S NO PORTS,
NO WAY TO GET PASSAGE TO BRAZIL.
AND THE SECOND MAJOR UPSET COME
WHEN I REALIZED THAT MEXICO --
IT HAS TWO BORDERS.
THE FIRST BORDER, YOU COULD
PASS INTO EASILY ENOUGH
WITH REALLY NO IDENTIFICATION,
BUT TO MAKE IT
MORE THAN 25 MILES INSIDE,
THERE'S MILITARY CHECKPOINTS
ON ALL THE ROADS,
AND YOU HAVE TO HAVE PERMISO
IF YOU'RE AN AMERICAN CITIZEN,
WHICH IS A TYPE OF VISA.
SO I'M TRAPPED.
Narrator: SILVERS TRIES TO MAKE
THE BEST OF HIS SITUATION,
BUT AFTER A COUPLE OF WEEKS,
HIS CASH AND HIS LUCK RUN OUT.
Silvers:
I BEGIN TO LOOK TO TRY TO FIND
A WAY TO MAKE SOME MONEY.
NOBODY WOULD HIRE ME.
NOW I'M ON THE STREETS --
NO MONEY, NO FOOD, NO WATER,
AND I DON'T EVEN
SPEAK THE LANGUAGE.
I'M REALLY STRUGGLING, YOU KNOW.
I'M EATING OUT OF TRASH BINS
WHERE THERE IS REALLY HARDLY
NO FOOD TO BE FOUND.
I'M THINKING I'M GONNA
HAVE TO SWIM THE RIO GRANDE
AND COME BACK INTO THE U.S.,
WHERE AT LEAST I CAN FIND A JOB.
Narrator: A FEW WEEKS
AFTER ARRIVING IN MATAMOROS,
SILVERS MEETS A FELLOW AMERICAN.
THE MAN, A VIETNAM VET,
OFFERS HIM WORK,
BUT IT'S
A RISKY JOB OPPORTUNITY.
Silvers: "WHAT WOULD THINK
ABOUT GROWING MARIJUANA?"
HE WOULD GIVE ME
A PLACE TO STAY.
HE WOULD RENT A WAREHOUSE.
HE WOULD PAY FOR EVERYTHING.
AND I WOULD GROW HIM
SOME HIGH-GRADE MARIJUANA.
HAVING NO OTHER OPTIONS
AVAILABLE TO ME, I AGREE.
Narrator:
THE JOINT VENTURE QUICKLY
BECOMES A LUCRATIVE BUSINESS.
BESIDES GROWING THE CROPS,
SILVERS ALSO HELPS PACKAGE
THE DRUGS TO SELL IN THE U.S.
IN EXCHANGE
FOR A CUT OF THE EARNINGS.
Silvers: HE WOULD TRANSPORT
MARIJUANA ACROSS THE BORDER
TO BE SOLD OVER HERE
AT A DECENT PROFIT.
Narrator:
SEVERAL MONTHS PASS,
AND SILVERS IS HAPPY
TO BE MAKING SOME EASY MONEY.
HE DOESN'T KNOW
THAT ORANGE COUNTY POLICE
HAVE A LEAD ON HIS WHEREABOUTS
AFTER ARRESTING HIS BROTHER
IN INDIANA.
Dixon: HIS BROTHER WAS STOPPED
FOR A TRAFFIC VIOLATION.
THE OFFICER THAT STOPPED HIM
FOUND MONEY-ORDER RECEIPTS
THAT WERE MAILED
TO MATAMOROS, MEXICO.
I SPOKE TO AUTHORITIES
IN BROWNSVILLE,
U.S. MARSHALS, AND THE FBI,
AND TOLD THEM
WHAT WE'D FOUND OUT,
AND WE PRETTY MUCH KNEW
THAT HE WAS JUST ACROSS
THE BORDER IN MEXICO.
Narrator: AUTHORITIES ARE
BACK ON SILVERS' TRAIL.
MEANWHILE,
SILVERS FALLS HEAD OVER HILLS
FOR A YOUNG MEXICAN WOMAN
NAMED ISABELLE.
Silvers: I'D MET THIS GUY,
AND THEN I'D MET HIS SISTER.
AND I'D FALLEN IN LOVE WITH HER.
IT WAS LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT.
I SEEN HER,
AND MY HEART WAS GONE.
I CAME CLEAN WITH HER.
I TOLD HER EVERYTHING
ABOUT WHO I WAS,
WHAT I WAS DOING THERE,
WHAT MY INTENTIONS WERE.
Narrator: ISABELLE WANTS TO
RETURN TO HER YOUNG SON
AND FAMILY IN VERACRUZ, MEXICO.
AS THEIR RELATIONSHIP BLOSSOMS,
SILVERS DECIDES
TO QUIT THE POT BUSINESS
SO THEY CAN MOVE THERE TOGETHER.
[ UP-TEMPO MUSIC PLAYS ]
BUT SNEAKING SILVERS
PAST THE MILITARY CHECKPOINTS
IS GOING TO BE A CHALLENGE.
ISABELLE COMES UP WITH A PLAN.
Silvers:
WE ALL DECIDED THAT THEY WOULD
SMUGGLE ME TO VERACRUZ.
WE WOULD LOAD THIS VAN UP
AND BASICALLY CREATE
A HIDDEN SPOT INSIDE OF THIS
FOR ME TO HIDE IN WHILE WE GOT
PAST THE MILITARY CHECKPOINTS.
Narrator:
SILVERS CLIMBS INTO THE VAN
AND BURIES HIMSELF
UNDER ISABELLE'S CLOTHES
AND OTHER BELONGINGS.
ALTHOUGH THE VAN IS STUFFED
WITH BOXES AND BAGS,
SILVERS IS NOT A SMALL GUY,
SO HE'S NOT VERY WELL-HIDDEN.
HE'S PINNING HIS FREEDOM
ON THE HOPE
THAT MEXICAN BORDER PATROL WON'T
SEARCH THE VAN TOO THOROUGHLY.
THE VAN GETS
TO THE FIRST CHECKPOINT,
AND THE MEXICAN OFFICIALS
ASK ISABELLE AND HER FAMILY
FOR IDENTIFICATION.
THEN THEY ASK TO SEARCH
THE BACK OF THE VAN.
SILVERS IS AFRAID
TO EVEN BREATHE.
IF HE MAKES ONE FALSE MOVE,
HIS FREEDOM WILL COME TO AN END.
Narrator: JULY 2003.
HANDS UP.
PUT THE PHONE DOWN.
IT'S BEEN OVER A YEAR
SINCE KERRY SILVERS ESCAPED
FROM AN INDIANA JAIL.
HE'S HEADING
TO VERACRUZ, MEXICO,
AND HOPING TO SNEAK
PAST THE BORDER PATROL
HIDDEN IN HIS GIRLFRIEND'S
FAMILY'S VAN.
IT'S A HIGHLY RISKY MANEUVER,
ESPECIALLY FOR A FUGITIVE.
IT WAS A VERY STRESSFUL TRIP,
TO SAY THE LEAST,
WITH THE MILITARY,
MEXICAN MILITARY
PRODDING THE BOXES
AND MOVING THINGS AROUND.
I'M HIDDEN INSIDE.
YOU KNOW,
IT WAS VERY NERVE-RACKING.
Narrator: SILVERS PASSES THROUGH
THE CHECKPOINT WITHOUT INCIDENT
AND ARRIVES IN VERACRUZ
WITH HIS GIRLFRIEND, ISABELLE.
HE'S ALSO MANAGED TO STAY
ONE STEP AHEAD
OF INDIANA AUTHORITIES,
WHO HAVE NOW CALLED ON THE
U.S. MARSHALS TO HELP FIND HIM.
JASON WOJDYLO IS A U.S. MARSHAL
ASSIGNED TO THE CASE.
HE AND OTHER INVESTIGATORS
KNOW THAT SILVERS HAS BEEN
LIVING IN MATAMOROS, MEXICO.
WHAT THEY DON'T KNOW
IS THAT HE'S MOVED AWAY.
IT WAS A CAT-AND-MOUSE GAME,
YOU KNOW,
AND IT'S LOOKING
FOR THAT NEEDLE IN THE HAYSTACK,
THAT MISTAKE THAT THEY MAKE.
Narrator: INVESTIGATORS TRACE
THE WIRE TRANSFERS
SILVERS HAS BEEN RECEIVING
AND DISCOVER A LINK BETWEEN THEM
AND THE VIETNAM VET
SILVERS USED TO WORK WITH.
Wojdylo:
THIS ASSOCIATE AND KERRY,
WHILE THEY WERE LIVING TOGETHER
IN MATAMOROS,
WAS SENDING SHIPMENTS
OF MARIJUANA THROUGH U.P.S.
BACK UP TO INDIANA
TO HIS BROTHER,
WHO WAS THEN SELLING
THE MARIJUANA,
AND THAT WAS A SOURCE
OF SOME OF THE INCOME
THAT RESULTED
IN THE WIRE TRANSFERS.
ENLIGHTEN ME.
Narrator: WOJDYLO KNOWS HE NEEDS
TO QUESTION THE VIETNAM VET
IN HOPES OF FINDING SILVERS.
HE DOES SOME DIGGING
AND FINDS OUT THE VET
REGULARLY CROSSES THE BORDER
TO BROWNSVILLE, TEXAS.
Wojdylo: HE WAS, OF COURSE,
RECEIVING FEDERAL ASSISTANCE
FROM SOCIAL SECURITY,
AND HIS CHECKS WERE BEING SENT
TO A POST-OFFICE BOX
ON THE BROWNSVILLE SIDE
OF THE BORDER.
WE CONCLUDED THAT
ON THE THIRD DAY OF EVERY MONTH,
HIS CHECK WOULD ARRIVE
IN HIS POST-OFFICE BOX,
AND ON THAT DAY
OR THE DAY THEREAFTER,
HE WOULD THEN BRING IT
TO CASH IT.
Narrator: THE MARSHALS
QUICKLY SET UP A STING OPERATION
ON THE BORDER BETWEEN
BROWNSVILLE AND MATAMOROS.
Wojdylo: WE HAD A WINDOW
WHEN WE ANTICIPATED
HE WAS GONNA CROSS THE BORDER
AND WHEN HE MIGHT ARRIVE
AT HIS POST-OFFICE BOX.
Narrator: AUTHORITIES FEAR
IF THEY MISS THIS OPPORTUNITY,
IT WILL BE AT LEAST
ANOTHER MONTH
BEFORE THEY CAN STOP
AND QUESTION HIM.
THERE'S ALSO THE RISK
THAT ONCE THEY TALK TO HIM,
THE VET WILL TIP SILVERS OFF
THAT THE MARSHALS
ARE CLOSING IN.
Wojdylo: WE ACTUALLY MISSED HIM
COMING ACROSS THE BORDER,
BUT WE HAD A DEPUTY U.S. MARSHAL
POSITIONED AT THE POST OFFICE,
AND WHEN HE ARRIVED
TO GET HIS MAIL...
I THINK I GOT HIM.
EXCUSE ME, SIR.
...HE AGREED TO VOLUNTARILY
COME IN FOR AN INTERVIEW
AND INDICATED THAT, IN FACT,
KERRY HAD BEEN LIVING WITH HIM
FOR SOME PERIOD OF TIME
IN MATAMOROS
BUT THAT HE WAS NO LONGER,
THAT HE HAD LEFT MONTHS EARLIER.
Narrator:
MEANWHILE, SILVERS STRUGGLES
TO SETTLE INTO HIS NEW LIFE
IN VERACRUZ
AND MAKE ENDS MEET FOR HIMSELF,
ISABELLE, AND HER YOUNG SON.
Silvers: ONCE AGAIN,
I COULDN'T FIND WORK.
HER BROTHER WORKED SOME
IN BANANA PLANTATIONS
AND LIME PLANTATIONS,
AND I WORKED SOME IN THAT DAY
LABOR, YOU KNOW, FOR LIKE $10.
NOW WE HAVE A LITTLE CHILD
LIVING WITH US,
AND HE HAS TO HAVE MILK
AND DIAPERS AND THINGS,
SO IT LOOKS LIKE
WE'RE JUST GONNA BUST.
Narrator:
SILVERS ALSO ADOPTS A NEW ALIAS.
Silvers: I STUCK WITH THE NAME
DAVID SCARPETTI.
I CHOSE "DAVID"
FOR A COUPLE REASONS --
ONE, ONE OF MY HEROES
FROM THE BIBLE WAS KING DAVID,
AND, TWO,
I WAS LOOKING FOR A NAME
THAT TRANSLATED WELL
INTO SPANISH.
Narrator: ONE DAY, SILVERS
DECIDES TO SPEND HIS FREE TIME
TINKERING WITH THE ONE ITEM
HE SMUGGLED INTO VERACRUZ.
THE ONLY THING THAT I'D
TAKEN WITH ME FROM MATAMOROS
WAS A COMPUTER.
I LIKE COMPUTERS.
I'VE ALWAYS REPAIRED COMPUTERS,
INSTALLING, SETTING UP NETWORKS.
SO I DECIDED TO SPEND THIS
MORNING SETTING UP THE COMPUTER.
Narrator: ONCE HIS NEIGHBORS
DISCOVER HIS HOBBY,
HIS FINANCIAL SITUATION
TAKES A DRAMATIC TURN.
Silvers: AN OLD LADY
COMES TO OUR DOOR.
THE LADY WANTS TO KNOW
IF I'D BE WILLING
TO GIVE HER TWO OR THREE
GRANDCHILDREN COMPUTER LESSONS.
YOU TEACH MY GRANDCHILDREN
COMPUTER?
Silvers:
I SAID, "OKAY," YOU KNOW?
SHE'S LIKE, "WELL, HOW MUCH?"
I SAID, "WELL,
HOW'S $5 PER CHILD PER WEEK?"
SHE AGREES TO IT, PULLS OUT
HER PURSE, PAYS UP FRONT.
ALL OF A SUDDEN,
WE'VE GOT MONEY.
WORD QUICKLY SPREADS
THROUGHOUT THE TOWN,
AND FOR THE FIRST TIME
IN HIS LIFE,
SILVERS IS EARNING
A DECENT LIVING.
GOOD MORNING, CLASS.
MY NAME IS SEÑOR SCARPETTI.
BEFORE I KNEW IT, PEOPLE WAS
KNOCKING ON THE DOOR --
"HEY, WILL YOU TEACH MY SON?"
I'M TEACHING
AT A JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL.
I'M TEACHING HUNDREDS
AND HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS
OF ELEMENTARY
AND JUNIOR-HIGH-LEVEL CHILDREN
AND ADULTS, AS WELL,
BOTH COMPUTER LITERACY
AND ENGLISH.
Narrator: SILVERS CAN'T RESIST
THE LURE OF A STEADY INCOME
TO HELP SUPPORT HIS NEW FAMILY.
HE QUICKLY BREAKS
THE CARDINAL RULE
OF KEEPING A LOW PROFILE
WHEN YOU'RE ON THE RUN.
IF YOU NEED ANY HELP,
JUST RAISE YOUR HAND.
I GRADUALLY BEGAN TO BECOME A
SORT OF PILLAR IN THE COMMUNITY.
EVERYBODY AFFORDED ME
THE GREATEST AMOUNT OF RESPECT
AND GRATITUDE
FOR WHAT I WAS DOING,
FOR TRYING TO HELP PEOPLE
AND TRYING TO BE
AN UPSTANDING PERSON.
Narrator: SILVERS AND ISABELLE
ALSO DECIDE TO GET MARRIED.
Silvers: WE'D ACTUALLY
WENT THROUGH A CEREMONY,
THOUGH NOT LEGALLY SO,
BECAUSE I COULDN'T USE MY NAME.
BUT FOR HER
AND MY CONSCIENCE'S SAKE,
WE DECIDED TO MARRY SO THAT
WE COULD NOT BE LIVING,
YOU KNOW, CONTRARY TO GOD'S LAW.
[ APPLAUSE ]
Narrator: AFTER BEING IN
VERACRUZ FOR JUST A FEW MONTHS,
SILVERS HAS CARVED OUT A
SUCCESSFUL CAREER AS A TEACHER.
HE HAS A JOB, A WIFE,
AND A NEW LEASE ON LIFE.
SO HE DECIDES
TO TAKE A BOLD STEP
THAT WILL MAKE HIM EVEN MORE
VISIBLE WITHIN THE COMMUNITY.
Silvers: EVENTUALLY, I WENT IN
PARTNERS ON A BUSINESS,
A COMPUTER STORE
CALLED EARTH NAVIGATOR --
30-SOME COMPUTERS,
INTERNET CAFé,
A RETAIL OUTLET,
A COMPUTER SHOP.
Dixon: I THINK HE FELT SAFE
ONCE HE GOT INTO MEXICO,
TEACHING AND BEING ABLE
TO RUN HIS OWN BUSINESS.
I THINK THAT HE REALLY FELT
THAT HE WAS FREE.
Narrator: SILVERS' LIFE OF CRIME
SEEMS LIKE A DISTANT MEMORY.
ONE AFTERNOON, HE GETS
A SOBERING REALITY CHECK
WHILE SURFING THE WEB
AT HIS STORE.
Silvers:
I'D ACTUALLY LOOKED
ON "AMERICA'S MOST WANTED"
WEBSITE ONE DAY
AND FOUND MYSELF,
AND I WAS TERRIFIED
TO SEE MY PICTURE COME UP.
Narrator: THIS IS WHAT SILVERS
HAS BEEN DREADING.
Silvers:
MY HEART DROPS INTO MY STOMACH.
Narrator:
HE ANXIOUSLY LOOKS AROUND
TO SEE IF ANYONE
IS WATCHING HIM.
IF HIS REAL IDENTITY
IS DISCOVERED,
HE'LL BE HEADED BACK TO JAIL.
Narrator: OCTOBER 2003.
VERACRUZ, MEXICO.
FUGITIVE KERRY SILVERS HAS BEEN
ON THE RUN FOR 18 MONTHS.
WHILE SURFING THE INTERNET
AT HIS COMPUTER STORE,
SILVERS IS SHOCKED
TO SEE HIS FACE
POSTED ON THE
"AMERICA'S MOST WANTED" WEBSITE.
I WAS TERRIFIED
TO SEE MY PICTURE COME UP.
MAN, I ERASED
THE BROWSER HISTORY.
I DID EVERYTHING I COULD TO TRY
TO KEEP THEM FROM THINKING,
"WELL, WHO WOULD BE LOOKING UP
KERRY SILVERS IN MEXICO?"
Wojdylo: HE ACTUALLY TOLD ME
WHEN HE CAME BACK
THAT HE DID GET ON THE
"AMERICA'S MOST WANTED" WEBSITE
JUST TO SEE
IF HE WAS ACTUALLY WANTED
AND DID SEE HIS PICTURE ON THERE
AND VERY QUICKLY
GOT OFF THE WEBSITE
BECAUSE HE WAS AFRAID
THAT HE COULD BE TRACKED
OR THAT WE WOULD BE
TRACKING HITS ON THAT WEBSITE.
Narrator: ONE AFTERNOON,
SILVERS GETS AN UNEXPECTED VISIT
THAT IMMEDIATELY
PUTS HIM ON EDGE.
Silvers: THIS GUY SHOWS UP --
SUIT-AND-TIE-LOOKING GUY.
IS DAVID SCARPETTI HERE?
I THINK HE'S A COP.
I DON'T HAVE PERMISO.
I DON'T HAVE I.D.
I DON'T HAVE PASSPORT.
I AIN'T GOT NOTHING.
There's a guy outside.
I'M THINKING,
"I'M IN TROUBLE."
HI, CAN I HELP YOU?
MR. SCARPETTI?
YEAH.
Narrator: HE'S STARING
INTO THE FACE OF A STRANGER
WHO MAY BE A COP.
Silvers: COME TO FIND OUT
THIS GUY'S A HEAD
OF A NEW VOCATIONAL SCHOOL
IN THE COMMUNITY,
AND HE WANTS TO INVITE ME
TO TEACH ENGLISH CLASSES.
LOVE TO. YEAH.
WELCOME ABOARD.
I CAN CHARGE THE SAME
I'M CHARGING FOR THE
COMPUTER CLASSES,
BUT I'LL HAVE A WHOLE BUNCH
OF STUDENTS AT ONCE,
SO I'LL BE MAKING A LOT MORE
FOR MY MONEY.
Narrator:
SILVERS ACCEPTS THE JOB,
EVEN THOUGH HE KNOWS IT MAKES
HIM EVEN MORE RECOGNIZABLE.
Silvers:
THE LIFESTYLE I WAS LIVING
WAS COUNTERACTIVE
TO MY GOAL OF STAYING FREE.
YOU KNOW, I WAS LIKE ONE
OF THE MOST WELL-KNOWN PEOPLE
WITHIN PROBABLY 50 MILES,
WHICH IS NOT WHAT A FUGITIVE
WANTS TO DO.
Narrator: SILVERS MANAGES
TO STAY UNDER THE RADAR
AS A TEACHER FOR A FULL YEAR
WITHOUT BEING DETECTED.
THEN HE MAKES
ANOTHER CAREER MOVE,
WHICH HE HOPES WILL ALSO HELP
THROW ANY POLICE INVESTIGATIONS
OFF HIS TRAIL.
Silvers:
I HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO TEACH
IN THE LARGEST ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
IN THE STATE OF VERACRUZ,
WHICH IS IN
MARTíNEZ DE LA TORRE --
SOLD THE BUSINESS AND EVERYTHING
AND MOVED TO THE NEXT CITY OVER.
Narrator:
BACK IN THE U.S.,
AUTHORITIES ARE CLOSING IN
ON SILVERS.
THE INFORMATION PROVIDED
BY SILVERS' FORMER
BUSINESS ASSOCIATE
REVEALS A MONEY TRAIL THAT LEADS
DIRECTLY TO ISABELLE.
HOLA.
Silvers:
I WAS USING MY WIFE.
I'D HAVE TO HAVE HER
TO GO PICK UP THIS MONEY
WHILE I WAS IN MATAMOROS,
SO THEY TRACKED THAT NAME
TO HER NAME
THROUGH THOSE RECORDS --
WIRE TRANSFERS --
AND TRACKED HER TO HER HOMETOWN
IN VERACRUZ.
DE NADA.
Wojdylo: WE RELAYED
ALL OF THAT INFORMATION
TO OUR MEXICAN
FOREIGN FIELD OFFICE,
WHO WORK VERY CLOSELY
WITH THE MEXICAN GOVERNMENT,
AND THROUGH ADDITIONAL LEADS
THAT THEY FOLLOWED,
WE WERE ABLE TO NARROW
HIS LOCATION
TO A VERY SMALL COMMUNITY
CALLED MARTíNEZ DE LA TORRE
IN VERACRUZ.
Narrator: NOW THAT AUTHORITIES
KNOW WHERE SILVERS IS LIVING,
THEY'RE HOPING
HE'LL BE EASY TO SPOT.
Wojdylo: HE'S A WHITE MALE.
HE STOOD OUT IN MEXICO.
REGARDLESS OF WHERE HE WAS AT,
HE STOOD OUT.
AND ANYBODY WITHIN 50 MILES
WOULD HAVE INSTANTLY KNOWN
WHO'S THE AMERICAN.
Narrator: AUTHORITIES HAVE
ALMOST EVERY PIECE
OF THE PUZZLE IN PLACE.
ALL THAT'S LEFT TO DO
IS FIND SILVERS AND ARREST HIM.
Wojdylo:
WE SENT A DEPUTY U.S. MARSHAL,
WHO WAS FLUENT IN SPANISH,
DOWN TO OUR MEXICAN FOREIGN
FIELD OFFICE IN MEXICO CITY
TO PROVIDE
THAT TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE
TO THE MEXICAN GOVERNMENT.
THEY NARROWED HIM DOWN
TO A RENTAL PROPERTY
IN MARTíNEZ DE LA TORRE.
THEY HAD THAT RESIDENCE
UNDER SURVEILLANCE.
Narrator: SILVERS DOESN'T KNOW
THAT AUTHORITIES
HAVE TRACKED HIM
TO MARTíNEZ DE LA TORRE
AND PLAN TO TAKE HIM DOWN.
ON THE AFTERNOON
OF DECEMBER 15, 2004,
SILVERS STOPS
AT A LOCAL VIDEO STORE.
A TEAM OF MEXICAN FEDERALES
AND A U.S. MARSHAL
HAVE TAILED HIM TO THE STORE
AND ARE MONITORING HIM
JUST A FEW HUNDRED FEET AWAY.
SILVERS IS COMPLETELY UNAWARE
THAT THE POLICE
HAVE HIM SURROUNDED.
Narrator:
DECEMBER 15, 2004.
VERACRUZ, MEXICO.
FUGITIVE KERRY SILVERS HAS BEEN
ON THE RUN FOR 2 1/2 YEARS...
GET 'EM UP.
GET 'EM UP!
...FOLLOWING A DARING ESCAPE
FROM AN INDIANA JAIL.
HIS JOURNEY HAS TAKEN HIM
TO THE TINY TOWN
OF MARTíNEZ DE LA TORRE...
WHERE HE HAS A NEW IDENTITY
AND A SUCCESSFUL CAREER AS
A COMPUTER AND ENGLISH TEACHER.
IF YOU NEED ANY HELP,
JUST RAISE YOUR HAND.
Narrator:
UNFORTUNATELY FOR SILVERS,
U.S. AUTHORITIES
HAVE TRACKED HIS WHEREABOUTS,
AND HIS FREEDOM
IS COMING TO AN END.
Silvers: WHEN I PULL UP
TO THE VIDEO STORE,
I GET OUT, GO TO LOCK MY CAR UP,
AND THESE TWO GUYS BUM-RUSH ME.
[ SHOUTS IN SPANISH ]
Narrator: SILVERS IS
COMPLETELY TAKEN BY SURPRISE
AND TRIES TO RESIST.
Silvers: THEY GOT ME PINNED
UP AGAINST THE CAR,
AND SO I'M PUSHING MYSELF
OFF THE CAR
TRYING TO GET TURNED AROUND.
[ SHOUTING IN SPANISH ]
SUDDENLY, AN AMERICAN
COMES WALKING UP...
KERRY SILVERS,
WE KNOW WHO YOU ARE.
...AND SAYS, "DON'T RESIST.
THEY'LL SHOOT YOU."
AS SOON AS I HEARD HIS VOICE,
I STOPPED.
Narrator:
SILVERS IS TAKEN INTO CUSTODY.
YEAH, WE GOT SILVERS.
THE MEXICAN FEDERALES
IMMEDIATELY TURN SILVERS
OVER TO THE U.S. AUTHORITIES.
Wojdylo: HE WAS BACK
WITHIN 24 HOURS OF HIS CAPTURE.
THE MEXICAN GOVERNMENT
EXPELLED HIM IMMEDIATELY,
AND WE HAD THE INDIANA STATE
POLICE WAITING TO INTERVIEW HIM.
Dixon:
THEY CALLED AND LET US KNOW
WHEN HE'D BE TRANSPORTED
BACK TO INDIANAPOLIS
AND GAVE US THE OPPORTUNITY
TO COME UP FOR THE INTERVIEW.
Narrator: SILVERS ARRIVES
IN INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA,
AND EVENTUALLY GETS TRANSFERRED
TO THE PENDLETON CORRECTIONAL
FACILITY 25 MILES AWAY.
FIVE YEARS LATER,
HE'S STILL AWAITING TRIAL
ON ESCAPE CHARGES
FROM THE ORANGE COUNTY JAIL.
HE KNOWS HE BROKE THE LAW
BUT CLAIMS HE NEVER INTENDED
TO HURT ANYONE IN THE PROCESS.
Silvers: CLEARLY,
I'M GUILTY OF SOME THINGS.
I DON'T MIND ADMITTING
WHAT I DID,
AND I DON'T MIND
ADMITTING THAT I WAS WRONG,
REGARDLESS OF MY REASONS.
I'M NOT GUILTY OF WHAT
THEY'RE SAYING I'M GUILTY OF.
YOU KNOW, I MEAN, I CERTAINLY
NEVER TRIED TO KILL ANYBODY.
I'VE NEVER TRIED
TO KIDNAP ANYONE.
I'VE NEVER HURT ANYONE
OR TRIED TO.
I WAS TRYING TO GET AWAY
TO SAVE MYSELF.
Shepherd:
THERE WAS AN EXTRA SAFETY
ON THAT PARTICULAR WEAPON.
OR I'M GONNA KILL YOU
RIGHT HERE.
IF THERE HAD NOT BEEN
A SAFETY IN PLACE,
AND HE PULLED THE TRIGGER,
HE WOULD HAVE KILLED ME THEN.
Narrator:
SILVERS HAS EVERY INTENTION
OF APPEALING
HIS ORIGINAL 61-YEAR SENTENCE.
Silvers:
THAT'S A LIFETIME.
THAT'S NOT JUST
SOME EXTRA YEARS HERE OR THERE.
THAT'S TAKING A PUNISHMENT AND
TURNING IT INTO A LIFE SENTENCE.
I DON'T THINK THAT A PERSON'S
ENTIRE LIFE SHOULD BE DESTROYED
FOR A COUPLE YOUTHFUL ERRORS
THAT DIDN'T REALLY HURT ANYONE,
ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU KNOW
YOU'RE NOT A BAD PERSON
AND WHEN YOU KNOW
THAT YOU HAVE POTENTIAL
TO MAKE SOMETHING OF YOUR LIFE,
YOU KNOW, TO BE SUCCESSFUL
AND HELP PEOPLE.
Wojdylo: HE SPENDS A LOT OF TIME
IN THE LAW LIBRARIES,
AND HE ACTUALLY COUNSELS
OTHER PRISONERS
ON THE LEGAL ASPECTS
OF THEIR CASE.
I WOULD NOT BE SURPRISED AT ALL
IF HE WAS NOT ABLE TO PRODUCE
A FILING IN COURT
THAT OTHERWISE RESULTED
IN A DECREASE IN HIS SENTENCE.
Narrator:
INVESTIGATORS AGREE
THAT SILVERS IS NOT YOUR TYPICAL
HARDENED CRIMINAL.
BUT THEY BELIEVE HIS PUNISHMENT
IS WELL-DESERVED.
Dixon: HE'S DIFFERENT.
YOU'RE LOOKING AT MORE OR LESS
A WHITE-COLLAR CRIMINAL
WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT KERRY.
HE'S NOT ONE TO GET
HIS HANDS DIRTY, YOU KNOW.
HE'S GONNA MANIPULATE
SOMEBODY ELSE
INTO GETTING THEIR HANDS DIRTY
AND HIM PROSPER FROM IT.
Shepherd:
HE'S A DANGEROUS INDIVIDUAL
BECAUSE HE'S INTELLIGENT,
HE'S A PLANNER.
HE THINKS IT THROUGH.
Narrator:
KERRY SILVERS IS A CROOK
WHO TOOK THINGS TOO FAR
WHEN HE ESCAPED FROM JAIL.
HE ALMOST GOT AWAY WITH IT,
AND HE IS CONFIDENT
THAT HE WON'T SPEND THE REST
OF HIS LIFE BEHIND BARS.
I WILL BE FREE AGAIN,
AND I WON'T BE AN OLD MAN.
I'M CONVINCED.
Shepherd: HE DESERVES
A LENGTHY PRISON SENTENCE.
HE SPENT MOST OF HIS LIFE TRYING
TO MAKE HIS MONEY THE EASY WAY.
HE'S RESORTED TO CRIME
TO SUPPORT HIMSELF.
A LOT OF THOSE PEOPLE
DON'T CHANGE OVERNIGHT.
STAY DOWN, OLD MAN.
MASTERMINDS A DARING JAIL BREAK.
I THOUGHT HE MIGHT HAVE TAKEN
MY LIFE TO GET AWAY.
Narrator: KERRY SILVERS
GIVES POLICE THE SLIP
AND FLEES TO MEXICO.
THEN HE JUST DISAPPEARED
OFF THE FACE OF THE EARTH.
Narrator:
HE BUILDS A NEW LIFE,
BUT HIS SUCCESS
PUTS HIM IN THE SPOTLIGHT.
MY NAME IS SEÑOR...
WHICH IS NOT WHAT A FUGITIVE
WANTS TO DO.
Narrator: OUTSMARTING SILVERS
WILL NOT BE EASY.
HE HAD A 2 1/2-YEAR
HEAD START ON US.
KERRY SILVERS,
WE KNOW WHO YOU ARE.
Narrator: CRIMINALS SOMETIMES
TRY TO ESCAPE FROM JUSTICE.
THIS IS THE STORY OF HOW ONE MAN
ALMOST GOT AWAY WITH IT.
CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY
DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS
APRIL 18, 2002.
THE ORANGE COUNTY JAIL
IN PAOLI, INDIANA.
28-YEAR-OLD KERRY SILVERS
IS SERVING A 61-YEAR SENTENCE
FOR ROBBERY, BURGLARY,
AND DRUG POSSESSION.
HE HAS SPENT ALL BUT
A FEW MONTHS OF HIS ADULT LIFE
BEHIND BARS.
NUMBER 3.
BUT THAT IS ABOUT TO CHANGE.
WHILE BEING LED BACK
TO HIS CELL,
SILVERS AND TWO OTHER INMATES
OVERPOWER A JAIL GUARD...
I'LL FIGHT YOU...
...AND THREATEN HIM
WITH A MAKESHIFT KNIFE.
THEY COME OUT, THEY GRABBED HIM,
THEY PUT IT UP TO HIS THROAT,
AND TOLD HIM THEY'D BASICALLY
CUT HIS THROAT.
GET THE KEY.
Narrator: THEY CUFF THE GUARD
TO THE CELL BARS...
GO, GO.
...AND HEAD DOWNSTAIRS
TO THE DISPATCH OFFICE.
Shepherd: I HEARD A KEY
GET PUT IN THE DOOR
AND THE KEY GET TURNED.
I ASSUMED IT WAS
ONE OF THE JAIL OFFICERS.
Narrator:
DISPATCHER DOUG SHEPHERD
IS ON DUTY WITH ANOTHER OFFICER.
THEY'RE BOTH TAKEN
COMPLETELY BY SURPRISE.
HANDS UP.
HANDS UP.
PUT THE PHONE DOWN --
THE PHONE DOWN.
Shepherd:
SILVERS PRODUCED WHAT APPEARED
TO BE A SEMIAUTOMATIC PISTOL.
Narrator:
THE GUN IS ACTUALLY A FAKE
THAT SILVERS SECRETLY MADE
OVER SEVERAL DAYS.
I DECIDED TO MAKE A FAKE GUN
USING WET TOILET PAPER --
KIND OF LIKE PAPER-MACHE --
AND THEN USING SOAP
TO GLOSS IT UP
AND BLACK MAGIC MARKER TO PAINT
IT TO MAKE IT LOOK REALISTIC.
OFFICER SHEPHERD IS ARMED
BUT DOESN'T HAVE TIME TO ACT.
Shepherd: I HAD A SPLIT SECOND
TO REALIZE IF I PULLED,
HE COULD FIRE FIRST,
AND I'D CERTAINLY BE DEAD.
BEFORE I COULD GO FOR MY WEAPON,
THEY WERE ON ME.
I WAS SHOVED TO THE FLOOR.
I WAS RELIEVED OF MY WEAPON.
Narrator: SILVERS KNOWS
IT'S JUST A MATTER OF MINUTES
BEFORE ANOTHER GUARD SEES THEM.
HE STARTS TO PANIC.
Shepherd:
MR. SILVERS WAS WANTING TO KNOW
WHERE MY HANDCUFFS WERE AT.
I TOLD HIM I DIDN'T HAVE
ANY CUFFS ON ME THAT NIGHT.
IT SEEMED LIKE IT UPSET HIM
QUITE A BIT.
HE PUT MY WEAPON TO MY HEAD
AND AGAIN ASKED ME
WHERE MY CUFFS WERE AT.
Silvers:
I WAS TRYING TO MAKE MYSELF
APPEAR TO LOOK VERY HYPED UP
LIKE ANYTHING'S POSSIBLE,
"DON'T CROSS ME," YOU KNOW.
"I'LL SHOOT YOU RIGHT NOW."
YOU KNOW, "I'M DESPERATE."
GIVE ME YOUR HANDCUFFS.
Shepherd: THE GUN WAS AROUND
TOWARD THE RIGHT SIDE.
IT WASN'T RIGHT IN THE BACK,
AND I COULD SEE
HIS FINGERS SQUEEZING.
AT THAT POINT,
I THOUGHT HE MIGHT HAVE
TAKEN MY LIFE TO GET AWAY.
Narrator:
THE CLOCK IS TICKING.
THE THREE INMATES NEED TO ACT
FAST BEFORE THEY ARE DISCOVERED.
Shepherd: THEN HE PUT
MY HANDS BEHIND MY HEAD
AND TOOK ME OUT
AROUND IN THE HALLWAY
AND TOOK ME BACK
INTO THE BOOKING HALLWAY AREA.
EDDIE AND MYSELF WERE PUT
INTO THE HOLDING CELL
WITH A COUPLE PRISONERS
THAT WERE ALREADY IN THERE.
Narrator:
SILVERS AND HIS BUDDIES
RACE OUT OF THE CELLBLOCK.
COME ON. LET'S GET OUT!
LET'S GO!
BUT THEY ONLY GET
A FIVE-MINUTE HEAD START.
THERE'S A SET OF KEYS
DOWN THERE. GO GRAB THE KEYS.
Shepherd: ONE OF THE INMATE
WORKERS CAME BACK THERE
AND ASKED IF THERE'S ANYTHING
HE COULD DO TO HELP US.
Narrator: ONCE HE'S FREE,
SHEPHERD ALERTS AUTHORITIES
ABOUT THE ESCAPE.
Shepherd:
I STARTED DOING MY JOB.
I PUT THE WORD OUT TO EVERYONE.
WE NEED A LOCKDOWN
RIGHT NOW.
I WAS BASICALLY TRYING
TO GET NOTIFICATIONS MADE
AND GET US AS MUCH HELP IN
AS POSSIBLE.
Narrator: MIKE DIXON
IS A FORMER DETECTIVE
WITH THE ORANGE COUNTY
SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT.
HE ARRIVES AT THE JAIL
AND IS IMMEDIATELY
PUT IN COMMAND OF THE MANHUNT.
OKAY, WE'RE MOVING OUT.
MEANWHILE,
SILVERS AND THE OTHER INMATES
SEIZE AN OPPORTUNITY
TO GET OUT OF TOWN.
Dixon: THERE WAS A HOUSE
LOCATED JUST EAST OF THE JAIL.
THE PEOPLE WERE SITTING
OUT ON THE PORCH.
HEY, GIVE ME THE MONEY!
THEY TRIED TO GET THESE PEOPLE
TO GIVE THEM MONEY
AND GO WITH THEM AS HOSTAGES.
DON'T MOVE!
UGH!
I THINK IT'S HIS HEART!
GUYS...
THE MAN AT THAT LOCATION
FAKED A HEART ATTACK,
AND SO THEY JUST LEFT.
Narrator: THE THREE MEN
SPEED OFF INTO THE COUNTRY.
STAY DOWN, OLD MAN.
THEY HAVE NO IDEA
WHETHER OR NOT THE COPS
ARE ON THEIR TRAIL.
Silvers: ALMOST IMMEDIATELY,
WE COME TO A "T,"
AND THERE'S A COP SITTING THERE,
AND I'M LIKE, "JUST BE COOL.
"TURN THE TURN SIGNALS ON...
DRIVE SAFELY, CALMLY,"
AND WE GOT PAST HIM.
[ POLICE RADIO CHATTER ]
Narrator: A WOMAN LIVING
JUST OUTSIDE OF TOWN
HELPS POINT THE COPS
IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
SHE HEARS AN ALL POINTS BULLETIN
ON HER POLICE SCANNER
AND CALLS IN.
HELLO, POLICE?
I JUST SAW THE S.U.V....
SHE SAYS A CAR
MATCHING THE DESCRIPTION
OF THE STOLEN VEHICLE
IS HEADING EAST
TOWARD THE NEXT COUNTY.
Shepherd: I STARTED
PUTTING THAT OUT ON THE AIR.
MY OTHER HAND WAS BUSY
DIALING THE PHONE
TO START CALLING EVERYBODY IN.
Narrator: WITHIN MINUTES,
A POLICE SQUADRON ZOOMS
TOWARD WASHINGTON COUNTY.
[ SIREN WAILS ]
THE THREE INMATES KEEP HEADING
EAST AND PASS ANOTHER COP CAR.
THIS TIME, THEY'RE NOT SO LUCKY.
Silvers: THE BRAKE LIGHTS
IMMEDIATELY FLASH ON,
AND I COULD SEE HE'S LOOKING
FOR A PLACE TO TURN AROUND.
SO I TELL MY ACCOMPLICE,
I'M LIKE,
"HEY, GET OFF OF THE ROAD..."
GO, GO, GO, GO, GO.
"...GET BEHIND SOMETHING --
A GARAGE, A HOUSE, SOMETHING."
...SUSPECT VEHICLE
HEADED SOUTHBOUND...
BEFORE WE COULD
GET AROUND THIS BARN,
THE COP IS ALREADY BACK,
AND HE SEEN US.
Narrator: THE MEN DECIDE
TO MAKE A RUN FOR IT ON FOOT.
[ SIREN CONTINUES ]
BUT SILVERS CAN'T KEEP UP.
Silvers: I'D BEEN IN JAIL
FOR ALMOST FOUR YEARS,
AND I'D GAINED A LOT OF WEIGHT.
WE COME UP TO THE BASE
OF THIS GIANT HILL,
AND MY FRIENDS ARE LIKE,
"LET'S GO," YOU KNOW,
AND I STARTED UP IT, AND I JUST
DON'T -- I DON'T HAVE IT.
I WORE OUT VERY QUICKLY.
Narrator: THE POLICE OFFICER
RADIOS FOR BACKUP.
WITHIN MINUTES,
THE SQUADRON ARRIVES
AND SETS OFF AFTER THE MEN.
THEY'RE DANGEROUS.
THEY'RE DESPERATE.
KEEP YOUR HEADS UP.
Dixon:
THEY DIDN'T GET ANY TIME.
THEY WAS PROBABLY NO MORE THAN
A HALF-MILE FROM US, IF THAT,
AND IT WAS JUST A COIN'S TOSS
OF WHETHER YOU CAUGHT THEM
OR WHETHER YOU DIDN'T.
THE INMATES REALIZE THE POLICE
ARE CLOSING IN ON THEM.
THEY TEAR THROUGH THE BRUSH
UP THE HILL,
BUT SILVERS IS WINDED
AND LAGS BEHIND.
COME ON, MAN!
WE NEED YOU!
Silvers: I'M LIKE, "WELL,
YOU GUYS GO AHEAD," YOU KNOW.
"IT'S OVER FOR ME."
COME ON, MAN!
SO THEY RUN ON UP THE HILL.
THIS POSSE STARTS TO COME UP
FROM BEHIND ME.
YOU KNOW, I CAN HEAR THE DOGS
BARKING AND WHATNOT.
Narrator:
SILVERS MUSTERS UP WHAT LITTLE
STRENGTH HE'S GOT TO PUSH ON.
THE COPS DON'T KNOW WHAT SILVERS
IS CAPABLE OF DOING IF CORNERED.
I HAD THE DRIVE OF KNOWING
THAT MY LIFE WAS ON THE LINE.
I'M JUST TERRIFIED.
Dixon: ANY TIME ANYBODY
GOES TO THOSE EXTREMES TO ESCAPE
AND STEALS A WEAPON,
THERE'S A REAL GOOD CHANCE
THAT THEY'RE GONNA BE ARMED
AND YOU'RE NOT GONNA
TAKE THEM ALIVE.
Narrator: SILVERS RUSHES DOWN
THE HILL AND REACHES THE ROAD,
ONLY TO FIND
A LINE OF POLICE CARS.
HE'S TRAPPED.
I FIGURED, "WELL, I MIGHT AS
WELL JUST STEP OUT INTO THE ROAD
"WITH MY HANDS IN THE AIR,
ALLOW MYSELF TO BE CUFFED
AND TAKEN INTO CUSTODY."
Narrator:
SILVERS SLOWLY SURRENDERS...
THEN MAKES
A SURPRISING DISCOVERY.
Silvers: I SUDDENLY REALIZED
THERE'S NO ONE AROUND,
NOT A SOUL IN SIGHT.
THEY'RE OFF CONFINING THEIR
SEARCH TO THIS SIDE OF THE ROAD,
SO I WENT AHEAD AND SCARED ON
OFF THE ROAD INTO THE BRUSH.
Narrator: SILVERS
IS PANICKED AND EXHAUSTED,
BUT HE KNOWS
HE'S GOT TO KEEP GOING.
I COME UP ON THIS CLEARING.
I HAVE NO IDEA WHERE I'M AT.
I DECIDED I NEEDED TO FIND
A PLACE TO BED DOWN.
I'D SEEN A BIG THORNBUSH
RIGHT BESIDE THE ROAD,
AND I DECIDED TO TRY TO BURROW
MY WAY INSIDE THIS THING.
IT WAS VERY PAINFUL --
BIG, SHARP THORNS,
AND I ENDED UP FALLING ASLEEP.
Narrator: WHILE SILVERS LAYS LOW
IN THE WOODS,
LUCK RUNS OUT
FOR HIS TWO ACCOMPLICES.
RIGHT BEHIND US!
THE POLICE
HAVE CLOSED IN ON THEM.
FREEZE!
HANDS IN THE AIR.
Dixon:
THEY HAD STOLEN A CELLPHONE,
AND WE WERE MONITORING
THE CELLPHONE TRAFFIC
FROM THE DIFFERENT TOWERS
IT WAS HITTING ON,
AND IT FINALLY ENDED UP
IN COLUMBUS.
WE NOTIFIED
THE COLUMBUS POLICE DEPARTMENT,
AND THEY WERE ABLE TO LOCATE
TWO OF THE FUGITIVES.
[ SPEAKING INDISTINCTLY ]
KERRY WASN'T WITH THEM.
Narrator:
SILVERS KEEPS MOVING.
HE WANDERS
THROUGH THE COUNTRYSIDE
WITHOUT FOOD OR WATER
OR KNOWING WHERE HE IS.
HE ALSO HAS NO IDEA WHETHER
THE COPS ARE CLOSING IN ON HIM.
Silvers: THERE'S THE ANXIETY.
"WHERE AM I GONNA GO?
"I HAVE NO MONEY. I'M BEING
HUNTED BY POLICE POSSES.
I'M DYING OF THIRST."
I SAID QUITE A FEW PRAYERS.
Narrator: FINALLY,
SILVERS GETS A LUCKY BREAK.
Silvers: I FOUND A VEHICLE
THAT HAD THE KEYS IN IT.
IT WAS ONE OF THOSE
CRIMES OF NECESSITY.
[ ENGINE TURNS OVER ]
I ENDED UP MAKING MY WAY
TO LOUISVILLE.
IT WAS THE CLOSEST MAJOR CITY.
Narrator: SILVERS DRIVES AN HOUR
SOUTH TO LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY.
DIXON HERE.
ALL RIGHT.
Narrator: ORANGE COUNTY POLICE
GET A TIP ABOUT A STOLEN CAR
CLOSE TO THE SEARCH AREA.
THEY HAVE A HUNCH
SILVERS IS THE CULPRIT
AND LAUNCH A FULL-SCALE MANHUNT
TO FIND HIM.
Dixon:
WE TRACKED THAT CAR TO KENTUCKY.
WE KNEW OF A RELATIONSHIP
HE HAD WITH PEOPLE IN KENTUCKY.
Narrator: AS SILVERS HEADS
TOWARD LOUISVILLE,
REALITY SETS IN.
IF HE GETS CAUGHT,
HE WILL LIKELY NEVER SEE
THE OUTSIDE OF A PRISON AGAIN.
Silvers:
I'M HAVING PANIC ATTACKS...
...ANXIETY ATTACKS -- I MEAN,
JUST WHERE YOU FEEL LIKE,
YOU KNOW, YOU'RE GONNA DIE, AND
IT'S GONNA HAPPEN VERY QUICKLY,
AND THERE'S NOTHING YOU CAN DO
TO STOP IT.
YOU'RE TRAPPED,
YOU CAN'T BREATHE,
AND THE WALLS ARE CLOSING IN.
Narrator: IT'S BEEN 18 HOURS
SINCE THE JAILBREAK.
NOW THAT SILVERS IS BELIEVED
TO BE FLEEING THE STATE,
HE IS OFFICIALLY CONSIDERED
A FUGITIVE.
Dixon:
ALL THE WARRANTS AND EVERYTHING
HAD BEEN PUT IN THE NATIONAL
CRIME INFORMATION COMPUTER
AND THE INDIANA CRIME COMPUTERS
AND EVERYTHING.
A FUGITIVE WARRANT WAS ISSUED
AFTER HE LEFT
THE STATE OF INDIANA.
Narrator:
SILVERS GETS TO LOUISVILLE.
HE FIGURES HIS GETAWAY CAR
HAS BEEN REPORTED STOLEN BY NOW.
SO HE LEAVES IT IN THE PARKING
LOT OF AN APARTMENT BUILDING.
Silvers: I DITCHED IT
OUTSIDE AN APARTMENT COMPLEX,
AND I WIPED IT DOWN.
AND I WAS TRYING TO GET SOMEONE
TO CALL A TAXI FOR ME.
I KNOCKED
ON A FEW DIFFERENT DOORS.
I GUESS MAYBE A BUNCH OF ELDERLY
PEOPLE LIVED HERE OR SOMETHING.
THEY WERE VERY SCARED
OF A YOUNG GUY BEING OUTSIDE
IN THEIR PARKING LOT.
AND ALL OF A SUDDEN,
I SEE TWO COP CARS
ROLLING DOWN THE STREET
TOWARD ME.
SO I HURRIED UP AND DITCHED
IN THIS LITTLE CUBBYHOLE
IN BETWEEN THE APARTMENTS
SO THE COPS COULDN'T SEE ME.
Narrator: SILVERS IS TERRIFIED
THAT COPS WILL FIND HIM
AND SEND HIM BACK TO JAIL.
Silvers: I'M HUNKERED DOWN
BEHIND A TRUCK,
AND I'M JUST HUNKERED DOWN,
RIGHT,
HOPING THEY CAN'T SEE MY LEGS
UNDERNEATH THIS TRUCK.
Narrator:
SILVERS WATCHES ANXIOUSLY.
THE COPS CIRCLE THE PARKING LOT
AND INCH CLOSER TO HIM.
Narrator: APRIL 2002.
HANDS UP.
PUT THE PHONE DOWN.
KERRY SILVERS IS ON THE RUN
AFTER A DARING ESCAPE
FROM AN INDIANA JAIL.
HE'S MADE IT 60 MILES AWAY
TO AN APARTMENT COMPLEX
IN LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY.
BUT POLICE
ARE CLOSING IN ON HIM.
I'M JUST HUNKERED DOWN, RIGHT,
HOPING THEY CAN'T SEE MY LEGS
UNDERNEATH THIS TRUCK,
AND IT KEEPS GOING.
THE CAR GOES ON, BUT I SEE
THEY'RE CIRCLING AROUND.
Narrator:
AS THE COP CARS REACH THE
OTHER END OF THE PARKING LOT,
SILVERS SEES HIS CHANCE.
HE RUNS OUT OF THE LOT
AND DOWN AN ALLEY.
Silvers: I ENDED UP FINDING,
LIKE, THIS OLD GARAGE,
AND THE DOOR WAS OPEN,
AND IT HAD --
I COULD SEE IT HAD A LOFT,
A SECOND STORY.
AND THERE WAS ALL THIS JUNK
AND STUFF.
I WAS LAYING UP IN THAT LOFT
AND JUST SCARED --
TERRIFIED THAT THEY WOULD --
OF HEARING SOMETHING DOWN
AT THE DOOR OF THAT GARAGE --
SOMEBODY OPEN THE DOOR,
'CAUSE IT WOULD BE ALL OVER.
Narrator:
SILVERS IS AFRAID THAT BY NOW,
THE INDIANA COPS MAY HAVE
TRACKED HIM TO LOUISVILLE.
HE MAKES THE MUSTY LOFT
HIS TEMPORARY HOME.
Silvers: FOR SIX DAYS,
I HID IN THAT LOFT,
AND DURING THE NIGHT,
LIKE, AT 1:00 IN THE MORNING,
I'D SNEAK OUT AND I'D GET WATER.
I HAD FOUND
SOME OLD MATCHES AND STUFF,
AND I BOILED SOME OF THIS WATER
AND DRANK IT.
IT MADE ME SICK, BUT IT
WAS WATER. I KEPT IT DOWN.
THAT HAD BEEN THE ONLY WATER
THAT I HAD HAD SINCE THE ESCAPE.
Narrator: MEANWHILE,
ORANGE COUNTY POLICE GET A TIP.
SOMEONE MATCHING
SILVERS' DESCRIPTION
HAS BEEN SPOTTED DRIVING ACROSS
THE BORDER TO KENTUCKY
IN A STOLEN CAR.
ONCE WE WAS ABLE TO FIND OUT
THAT LOUISVILLE
HAD LOCATED THE VEHICLE
IN AN APARTMENT COMPLEX
PARKING LOT DOWN THERE,
A STATE POLICE OFFICER
AND MYSELF WENT DOWN THERE
AND PROCESSED THAT VEHICLE,
WHERE WE FOUND
KERRY'S FINGERPRINTS
AND DETERMINED THAT HE WAS,
IN FACT,
THE ONE THAT HAD STOLEN IT.
Narrator: AFTER ALMOST A WEEK
OF HIDING IN THE LOFT,
SILVERS EMERGES.
AND ALMOST IMMEDIATELY,
DESPERATION SETS IN.
HE HAS NO MONEY,
NO FOOD, AND NO PLAN.
HE DOES HAVE
ONE FAINT RAY OF HOPE.
I HAD ENDED UP COMING IN CONTACT
WITH DISTANT RELATIVES.
I'M KERRY SILVERS.
I WAS HONEST WITH THEM.
I TOLD THEM THE WHOLE STORY,
WHO I WAS,
AND WHAT WAS GOING ON,
AND BASICALLY PUT MY FUTURE
AND MY LIFE IN THEIR HANDS.
...ESCAPED AGAIN...
Narrator: SILVERS' RELATIVES
LET HIM MOVE IN.
HE BEGINS TO SETTLE
INTO A NEW LIFE
WHILE KEEPING
A LOW PROFILE.
FAMILY'S FAMILY.
Silvers: I ENDED UP GETTING
A JOB FOR A VENDING COMPANY
STOCKING POP MACHINES,
SODA MACHINES.
I WAS REAL INTENT ON CHANGING MY
IDENTITY AS QUICKLY AS I COULD.
MY ALIAS IN LOUISVILLE I CHOSE
WAS JUSTIN AND CASE --
JUSTIN CASE --
MOSTLY FOR THE HUMOR OF IT.
Narrator: SILVERS' ATTEMPT
TO BUILD A LIFE IN LOUISVILLE
IS SHORT-LIVED.
Silvers:
ONE OF THE DISTANT RELATIVES
THAT I STAYED WITH SOME
WAS CLOSE FRIENDS
WITH A LIEUTENANT
AT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT
THERE IN LOUISVILLE.
I GOT A WARNING
THROUGH THIS LIEUTENANT
AT THE LOUISVILLE
POLICE DEPARTMENT...
YOU HAVE GOT TO GET HIM
OUT OF TOWN.
...THAT THEY WERE BEING TOLD
TO GO AND LOOK FOR ME.
I HAD TO LEAVE.
I JUST -- YOU KNOW, I HAD
A LITTLE BIT OF MONEY SAVED UP,
AND I RENTED A HOTEL
JUST OUTSIDE THE CITY
FOR A COUPLE DAYS
WHILE I TRIED TO FIGURE OUT
WHAT MY NEXT PLAY WOULD BE.
Narrator:
SILVERS FEARS THE POLICE
ARE CLOSE TO CATCHING HIM.
SO HE DECIDES TO HEAD SOUTH.
Silvers:
I WALKED INTO A BUS STATION...
ONE-WAY TICKET --
NEW ORLEANS.
...AND WALKED UP TO THE COUNTER
AND SAID,
"LET ME HAVE A TICKET ONE-WAY
FOR NEW ORLEANS."
I CHOSE NEW ORLEANS BECAUSE
SOMEWHERE ALONG THE LINE,
I HAD READ THAT NEW ORLEANS
WAS THE MURDER CAPITAL
OF THE COUNTRY,
AND SO I FIGURED WITH THOSE TYPE
OF SERIOUS CRIMES IN PLAY,
SOMEBODY LIKE ME
THAT WAS JUST AN AVERAGE JOE
WOULD BE ABLE TO SLIDE
UNDER THE RADAR.
Narrator:
SILVERS ARRIVES IN THE BIG EASY.
ONCE AGAIN, HE HAS TO REINVENT
HIMSELF TO STAY UNDER THE RADAR.
Silvers:
WHENEVER I WOULD CHANGE CITIES,
I WOULD TRY TO CHANGE MY
APPEARANCE AS MUCH AS I COULD.
I WAS CONSTANTLY LOSING WEIGHT,
SO I WAS CHANGING
THE APPEARANCE OF MY FACE.
I WOULD EVEN TRY
TO DRESS DIFFERENTLY.
I'D ADOPT A DIFFERENT,
YOU KNOW, PERSONA.
I GOT A JOB THERE
WORKING IN A RESTAURANT
AS A SOUS CHEF IN TRAINING
AND REALLY FELL IN LOVE
WITH THE CULTURE THERE.
Narrator:
SILVERS' CHARMING PERSONALITY
AND FRIENDLY DEMEANOR
HELP HIM FIT IN
AND MAKE FRIENDS IN NEW ORLEANS.
STILL, HE FEELS THE NEED TO
CONSTANTLY WATCH HIS EVERY STEP.
Silvers: WHENEVER I WOULD SEE
A POLICE OFFICER,
MY INSIDES WOULD JUST CRINGE --
YOU KNOW, FEAR.
I WOULD ALMOST BE PARALYZED
WITH FEAR --
YOU KNOW,
FEARFUL TO MAKE EYE CONTACT.
"ARE THEY COMING FOR ME?
IS THIS IT?"
Narrator: SEPTEMBER 2002.
IT'S BEEN ALMOST SIX MONTHS
SINCE KERRY SILVERS BROKE OUT
OF JAIL FOR THE SECOND TIME.
[ SILVERS BREATHING HEAVILY ]
ORANGE COUNTY INVESTIGATORS
HAVE NO NEW LEADS.
THEIR ONLY HOPE IS THAT SILVERS
WILL MAKE CONTACT
WITH ONE OF HIS RELATIVES.
Dixon: I MADE SEVERAL TRIPS
UP TO LAWRENCE COUNTY
TO INTERVIEW FAMILY AND FRIENDS,
YOU KNOW,
TO SEE IF ANYBODY
HAD HEARD FROM HIM.
HIS FAMILY WAS REAL HARD
TO GET INFORMATION OUT OF.
THEY WAS DOING EVERYTHING
THEY COULD TO PROTECT HIM.
Narrator: WITH NO OTHER
INFORMATION TO GO ON,
THE CASE GOES COLD.
IT BECOMES MORE FRUSTRATING
BECAUSE THEN HE JUST DISAPPEARED
OFF THE FACE OF THE EARTH
FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME,
AND THERE WAS NO WAY TO KNOW
WHICH WAY HE WAS GOING OR --
OR WHERE HE MIGHT BE HEADED.
THE FACT THAT KERRY
WAS SO INTELLIGENT
PROBABLY MADE
THE INVESTIGATION HARDER
BECAUSE, UNLIKE MOST CRIMINALS,
HE KEPT A LOW PROFILE,
NEVER GOT IN ANY TROUBLE.
IT MADE THE JOB TOUGH.
Narrator: IN OCTOBER 2002,
SILVERS HAS ANOTHER CLOSE CALL
THAT FORCES HIM TO UPROOT
HIS LIFE AND MOVE ON.
ONE EVENING,
THE RESTAURANT GOT ROBBED.
THE POLICE WANT TO INTERVIEW
EVERYBODY THAT WORKS THERE,
AND, OF COURSE, I CAN'T DO THAT.
'CAUSE I THINK
IT'S AN INSIDE JOB.
THAT'S WHAT WE THINK.
SO WHEN THE POLICE WANTED ME
TO COME IN AND BE QUESTIONED,
I DECIDED I HAD TO LEAVE.
I WENT INTO A BUS STATION
AND GOT A BUS TICKET
TO BROWNSVILLE, TEXAS,
WHICH IS A BORDER TOWN.
Narrator: SILVERS FIGURES
HE HAS A BETTER CHANCE
OF KEEPING HIS IDENTITY
A SECRET IN MEXICO.
BUT GETTING THERE MAY BE
A REAL CHALLENGE.
Silvers: I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT
I WAS GONNA HAVE TO GO THROUGH
TO GET INTO MEXICO.
I DIDN'T HAVE AN I.D.,
A PASSPORT, OR ANYTHING.
SO I'M THINKING, IF NECESSARY,
I'LL BUY ME A RAFT,
AND I'LL LAUNCH OFF
ON SOUTH PADRE ISLAND,
CATCH THE TIDES,
AND GET OUT AROUND AND COME IN
ON THE MEXICO SIDE.
I'M TRYING TO FIND MY WAY
DOWN SOUTH.
I'M IN THE BUS STATION, AND SOME
LONG-HAIRED GUY COMES UP TO ME.
HE STARTS TALKING TO ME.
AND COME TO FIND OUT
YOU DON'T HAVE TO DO ANYTHING.
HE SAID, "YOU GOT TO PUT
LIKE 50 CENTS OR SOMETHING
IN THIS TURNSTILE
AND PASS THROUGH."
SO THAT'S HOW I ENTERED MEXICO.
I PICKED UP MY BAGS
AND WALKED ACROSS THIS BRIDGE.
AND THAT WAS
A VERY EMOTIONAL MOMENT,
THINKING IT WOULD BE THE
LAST TIME I'D GET TO
SEE MY NATIVE LAND.
[ WHISTLE BLOWS ]
Narrator: SILVERS ARRIVES
IN THE TOWN OF MATAMOROS,
BUT HE DOESN'T INTEND
TO SETTLE HERE.
HE'S GOT A LONG-RANGE PLAN
THAT WOULD GUARANTEE HIM
LIFELONG FREEDOM.
Silvers: IF A FUGITIVE
MAKES IT TO BRAZIL
AND GETS MARRIED
AND HAS A CHILD,
THEY ARE NOW BEYOND EXTRADITION
TO ANY COUNTRY FOR ANYTHING.
MY GOAL WAS TO MAKE IT TO BRAZIL
AND START A NEW LIFE.
Narrator: SILVERS' HOPES
ARE QUICKLY DASHED.
Silvers:
MATAMOROS IS A COASTAL CITY,
BUT THERE'S NO PORTS,
NO WAY TO GET PASSAGE TO BRAZIL.
AND THE SECOND MAJOR UPSET COME
WHEN I REALIZED THAT MEXICO --
IT HAS TWO BORDERS.
THE FIRST BORDER, YOU COULD
PASS INTO EASILY ENOUGH
WITH REALLY NO IDENTIFICATION,
BUT TO MAKE IT
MORE THAN 25 MILES INSIDE,
THERE'S MILITARY CHECKPOINTS
ON ALL THE ROADS,
AND YOU HAVE TO HAVE PERMISO
IF YOU'RE AN AMERICAN CITIZEN,
WHICH IS A TYPE OF VISA.
SO I'M TRAPPED.
Narrator: SILVERS TRIES TO MAKE
THE BEST OF HIS SITUATION,
BUT AFTER A COUPLE OF WEEKS,
HIS CASH AND HIS LUCK RUN OUT.
Silvers:
I BEGIN TO LOOK TO TRY TO FIND
A WAY TO MAKE SOME MONEY.
NOBODY WOULD HIRE ME.
NOW I'M ON THE STREETS --
NO MONEY, NO FOOD, NO WATER,
AND I DON'T EVEN
SPEAK THE LANGUAGE.
I'M REALLY STRUGGLING, YOU KNOW.
I'M EATING OUT OF TRASH BINS
WHERE THERE IS REALLY HARDLY
NO FOOD TO BE FOUND.
I'M THINKING I'M GONNA
HAVE TO SWIM THE RIO GRANDE
AND COME BACK INTO THE U.S.,
WHERE AT LEAST I CAN FIND A JOB.
Narrator: A FEW WEEKS
AFTER ARRIVING IN MATAMOROS,
SILVERS MEETS A FELLOW AMERICAN.
THE MAN, A VIETNAM VET,
OFFERS HIM WORK,
BUT IT'S
A RISKY JOB OPPORTUNITY.
Silvers: "WHAT WOULD THINK
ABOUT GROWING MARIJUANA?"
HE WOULD GIVE ME
A PLACE TO STAY.
HE WOULD RENT A WAREHOUSE.
HE WOULD PAY FOR EVERYTHING.
AND I WOULD GROW HIM
SOME HIGH-GRADE MARIJUANA.
HAVING NO OTHER OPTIONS
AVAILABLE TO ME, I AGREE.
Narrator:
THE JOINT VENTURE QUICKLY
BECOMES A LUCRATIVE BUSINESS.
BESIDES GROWING THE CROPS,
SILVERS ALSO HELPS PACKAGE
THE DRUGS TO SELL IN THE U.S.
IN EXCHANGE
FOR A CUT OF THE EARNINGS.
Silvers: HE WOULD TRANSPORT
MARIJUANA ACROSS THE BORDER
TO BE SOLD OVER HERE
AT A DECENT PROFIT.
Narrator:
SEVERAL MONTHS PASS,
AND SILVERS IS HAPPY
TO BE MAKING SOME EASY MONEY.
HE DOESN'T KNOW
THAT ORANGE COUNTY POLICE
HAVE A LEAD ON HIS WHEREABOUTS
AFTER ARRESTING HIS BROTHER
IN INDIANA.
Dixon: HIS BROTHER WAS STOPPED
FOR A TRAFFIC VIOLATION.
THE OFFICER THAT STOPPED HIM
FOUND MONEY-ORDER RECEIPTS
THAT WERE MAILED
TO MATAMOROS, MEXICO.
I SPOKE TO AUTHORITIES
IN BROWNSVILLE,
U.S. MARSHALS, AND THE FBI,
AND TOLD THEM
WHAT WE'D FOUND OUT,
AND WE PRETTY MUCH KNEW
THAT HE WAS JUST ACROSS
THE BORDER IN MEXICO.
Narrator: AUTHORITIES ARE
BACK ON SILVERS' TRAIL.
MEANWHILE,
SILVERS FALLS HEAD OVER HILLS
FOR A YOUNG MEXICAN WOMAN
NAMED ISABELLE.
Silvers: I'D MET THIS GUY,
AND THEN I'D MET HIS SISTER.
AND I'D FALLEN IN LOVE WITH HER.
IT WAS LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT.
I SEEN HER,
AND MY HEART WAS GONE.
I CAME CLEAN WITH HER.
I TOLD HER EVERYTHING
ABOUT WHO I WAS,
WHAT I WAS DOING THERE,
WHAT MY INTENTIONS WERE.
Narrator: ISABELLE WANTS TO
RETURN TO HER YOUNG SON
AND FAMILY IN VERACRUZ, MEXICO.
AS THEIR RELATIONSHIP BLOSSOMS,
SILVERS DECIDES
TO QUIT THE POT BUSINESS
SO THEY CAN MOVE THERE TOGETHER.
[ UP-TEMPO MUSIC PLAYS ]
BUT SNEAKING SILVERS
PAST THE MILITARY CHECKPOINTS
IS GOING TO BE A CHALLENGE.
ISABELLE COMES UP WITH A PLAN.
Silvers:
WE ALL DECIDED THAT THEY WOULD
SMUGGLE ME TO VERACRUZ.
WE WOULD LOAD THIS VAN UP
AND BASICALLY CREATE
A HIDDEN SPOT INSIDE OF THIS
FOR ME TO HIDE IN WHILE WE GOT
PAST THE MILITARY CHECKPOINTS.
Narrator:
SILVERS CLIMBS INTO THE VAN
AND BURIES HIMSELF
UNDER ISABELLE'S CLOTHES
AND OTHER BELONGINGS.
ALTHOUGH THE VAN IS STUFFED
WITH BOXES AND BAGS,
SILVERS IS NOT A SMALL GUY,
SO HE'S NOT VERY WELL-HIDDEN.
HE'S PINNING HIS FREEDOM
ON THE HOPE
THAT MEXICAN BORDER PATROL WON'T
SEARCH THE VAN TOO THOROUGHLY.
THE VAN GETS
TO THE FIRST CHECKPOINT,
AND THE MEXICAN OFFICIALS
ASK ISABELLE AND HER FAMILY
FOR IDENTIFICATION.
THEN THEY ASK TO SEARCH
THE BACK OF THE VAN.
SILVERS IS AFRAID
TO EVEN BREATHE.
IF HE MAKES ONE FALSE MOVE,
HIS FREEDOM WILL COME TO AN END.
Narrator: JULY 2003.
HANDS UP.
PUT THE PHONE DOWN.
IT'S BEEN OVER A YEAR
SINCE KERRY SILVERS ESCAPED
FROM AN INDIANA JAIL.
HE'S HEADING
TO VERACRUZ, MEXICO,
AND HOPING TO SNEAK
PAST THE BORDER PATROL
HIDDEN IN HIS GIRLFRIEND'S
FAMILY'S VAN.
IT'S A HIGHLY RISKY MANEUVER,
ESPECIALLY FOR A FUGITIVE.
IT WAS A VERY STRESSFUL TRIP,
TO SAY THE LEAST,
WITH THE MILITARY,
MEXICAN MILITARY
PRODDING THE BOXES
AND MOVING THINGS AROUND.
I'M HIDDEN INSIDE.
YOU KNOW,
IT WAS VERY NERVE-RACKING.
Narrator: SILVERS PASSES THROUGH
THE CHECKPOINT WITHOUT INCIDENT
AND ARRIVES IN VERACRUZ
WITH HIS GIRLFRIEND, ISABELLE.
HE'S ALSO MANAGED TO STAY
ONE STEP AHEAD
OF INDIANA AUTHORITIES,
WHO HAVE NOW CALLED ON THE
U.S. MARSHALS TO HELP FIND HIM.
JASON WOJDYLO IS A U.S. MARSHAL
ASSIGNED TO THE CASE.
HE AND OTHER INVESTIGATORS
KNOW THAT SILVERS HAS BEEN
LIVING IN MATAMOROS, MEXICO.
WHAT THEY DON'T KNOW
IS THAT HE'S MOVED AWAY.
IT WAS A CAT-AND-MOUSE GAME,
YOU KNOW,
AND IT'S LOOKING
FOR THAT NEEDLE IN THE HAYSTACK,
THAT MISTAKE THAT THEY MAKE.
Narrator: INVESTIGATORS TRACE
THE WIRE TRANSFERS
SILVERS HAS BEEN RECEIVING
AND DISCOVER A LINK BETWEEN THEM
AND THE VIETNAM VET
SILVERS USED TO WORK WITH.
Wojdylo:
THIS ASSOCIATE AND KERRY,
WHILE THEY WERE LIVING TOGETHER
IN MATAMOROS,
WAS SENDING SHIPMENTS
OF MARIJUANA THROUGH U.P.S.
BACK UP TO INDIANA
TO HIS BROTHER,
WHO WAS THEN SELLING
THE MARIJUANA,
AND THAT WAS A SOURCE
OF SOME OF THE INCOME
THAT RESULTED
IN THE WIRE TRANSFERS.
ENLIGHTEN ME.
Narrator: WOJDYLO KNOWS HE NEEDS
TO QUESTION THE VIETNAM VET
IN HOPES OF FINDING SILVERS.
HE DOES SOME DIGGING
AND FINDS OUT THE VET
REGULARLY CROSSES THE BORDER
TO BROWNSVILLE, TEXAS.
Wojdylo: HE WAS, OF COURSE,
RECEIVING FEDERAL ASSISTANCE
FROM SOCIAL SECURITY,
AND HIS CHECKS WERE BEING SENT
TO A POST-OFFICE BOX
ON THE BROWNSVILLE SIDE
OF THE BORDER.
WE CONCLUDED THAT
ON THE THIRD DAY OF EVERY MONTH,
HIS CHECK WOULD ARRIVE
IN HIS POST-OFFICE BOX,
AND ON THAT DAY
OR THE DAY THEREAFTER,
HE WOULD THEN BRING IT
TO CASH IT.
Narrator: THE MARSHALS
QUICKLY SET UP A STING OPERATION
ON THE BORDER BETWEEN
BROWNSVILLE AND MATAMOROS.
Wojdylo: WE HAD A WINDOW
WHEN WE ANTICIPATED
HE WAS GONNA CROSS THE BORDER
AND WHEN HE MIGHT ARRIVE
AT HIS POST-OFFICE BOX.
Narrator: AUTHORITIES FEAR
IF THEY MISS THIS OPPORTUNITY,
IT WILL BE AT LEAST
ANOTHER MONTH
BEFORE THEY CAN STOP
AND QUESTION HIM.
THERE'S ALSO THE RISK
THAT ONCE THEY TALK TO HIM,
THE VET WILL TIP SILVERS OFF
THAT THE MARSHALS
ARE CLOSING IN.
Wojdylo: WE ACTUALLY MISSED HIM
COMING ACROSS THE BORDER,
BUT WE HAD A DEPUTY U.S. MARSHAL
POSITIONED AT THE POST OFFICE,
AND WHEN HE ARRIVED
TO GET HIS MAIL...
I THINK I GOT HIM.
EXCUSE ME, SIR.
...HE AGREED TO VOLUNTARILY
COME IN FOR AN INTERVIEW
AND INDICATED THAT, IN FACT,
KERRY HAD BEEN LIVING WITH HIM
FOR SOME PERIOD OF TIME
IN MATAMOROS
BUT THAT HE WAS NO LONGER,
THAT HE HAD LEFT MONTHS EARLIER.
Narrator:
MEANWHILE, SILVERS STRUGGLES
TO SETTLE INTO HIS NEW LIFE
IN VERACRUZ
AND MAKE ENDS MEET FOR HIMSELF,
ISABELLE, AND HER YOUNG SON.
Silvers: ONCE AGAIN,
I COULDN'T FIND WORK.
HER BROTHER WORKED SOME
IN BANANA PLANTATIONS
AND LIME PLANTATIONS,
AND I WORKED SOME IN THAT DAY
LABOR, YOU KNOW, FOR LIKE $10.
NOW WE HAVE A LITTLE CHILD
LIVING WITH US,
AND HE HAS TO HAVE MILK
AND DIAPERS AND THINGS,
SO IT LOOKS LIKE
WE'RE JUST GONNA BUST.
Narrator:
SILVERS ALSO ADOPTS A NEW ALIAS.
Silvers: I STUCK WITH THE NAME
DAVID SCARPETTI.
I CHOSE "DAVID"
FOR A COUPLE REASONS --
ONE, ONE OF MY HEROES
FROM THE BIBLE WAS KING DAVID,
AND, TWO,
I WAS LOOKING FOR A NAME
THAT TRANSLATED WELL
INTO SPANISH.
Narrator: ONE DAY, SILVERS
DECIDES TO SPEND HIS FREE TIME
TINKERING WITH THE ONE ITEM
HE SMUGGLED INTO VERACRUZ.
THE ONLY THING THAT I'D
TAKEN WITH ME FROM MATAMOROS
WAS A COMPUTER.
I LIKE COMPUTERS.
I'VE ALWAYS REPAIRED COMPUTERS,
INSTALLING, SETTING UP NETWORKS.
SO I DECIDED TO SPEND THIS
MORNING SETTING UP THE COMPUTER.
Narrator: ONCE HIS NEIGHBORS
DISCOVER HIS HOBBY,
HIS FINANCIAL SITUATION
TAKES A DRAMATIC TURN.
Silvers: AN OLD LADY
COMES TO OUR DOOR.
THE LADY WANTS TO KNOW
IF I'D BE WILLING
TO GIVE HER TWO OR THREE
GRANDCHILDREN COMPUTER LESSONS.
YOU TEACH MY GRANDCHILDREN
COMPUTER?
Silvers:
I SAID, "OKAY," YOU KNOW?
SHE'S LIKE, "WELL, HOW MUCH?"
I SAID, "WELL,
HOW'S $5 PER CHILD PER WEEK?"
SHE AGREES TO IT, PULLS OUT
HER PURSE, PAYS UP FRONT.
ALL OF A SUDDEN,
WE'VE GOT MONEY.
WORD QUICKLY SPREADS
THROUGHOUT THE TOWN,
AND FOR THE FIRST TIME
IN HIS LIFE,
SILVERS IS EARNING
A DECENT LIVING.
GOOD MORNING, CLASS.
MY NAME IS SEÑOR SCARPETTI.
BEFORE I KNEW IT, PEOPLE WAS
KNOCKING ON THE DOOR --
"HEY, WILL YOU TEACH MY SON?"
I'M TEACHING
AT A JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL.
I'M TEACHING HUNDREDS
AND HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS
OF ELEMENTARY
AND JUNIOR-HIGH-LEVEL CHILDREN
AND ADULTS, AS WELL,
BOTH COMPUTER LITERACY
AND ENGLISH.
Narrator: SILVERS CAN'T RESIST
THE LURE OF A STEADY INCOME
TO HELP SUPPORT HIS NEW FAMILY.
HE QUICKLY BREAKS
THE CARDINAL RULE
OF KEEPING A LOW PROFILE
WHEN YOU'RE ON THE RUN.
IF YOU NEED ANY HELP,
JUST RAISE YOUR HAND.
I GRADUALLY BEGAN TO BECOME A
SORT OF PILLAR IN THE COMMUNITY.
EVERYBODY AFFORDED ME
THE GREATEST AMOUNT OF RESPECT
AND GRATITUDE
FOR WHAT I WAS DOING,
FOR TRYING TO HELP PEOPLE
AND TRYING TO BE
AN UPSTANDING PERSON.
Narrator: SILVERS AND ISABELLE
ALSO DECIDE TO GET MARRIED.
Silvers: WE'D ACTUALLY
WENT THROUGH A CEREMONY,
THOUGH NOT LEGALLY SO,
BECAUSE I COULDN'T USE MY NAME.
BUT FOR HER
AND MY CONSCIENCE'S SAKE,
WE DECIDED TO MARRY SO THAT
WE COULD NOT BE LIVING,
YOU KNOW, CONTRARY TO GOD'S LAW.
[ APPLAUSE ]
Narrator: AFTER BEING IN
VERACRUZ FOR JUST A FEW MONTHS,
SILVERS HAS CARVED OUT A
SUCCESSFUL CAREER AS A TEACHER.
HE HAS A JOB, A WIFE,
AND A NEW LEASE ON LIFE.
SO HE DECIDES
TO TAKE A BOLD STEP
THAT WILL MAKE HIM EVEN MORE
VISIBLE WITHIN THE COMMUNITY.
Silvers: EVENTUALLY, I WENT IN
PARTNERS ON A BUSINESS,
A COMPUTER STORE
CALLED EARTH NAVIGATOR --
30-SOME COMPUTERS,
INTERNET CAFé,
A RETAIL OUTLET,
A COMPUTER SHOP.
Dixon: I THINK HE FELT SAFE
ONCE HE GOT INTO MEXICO,
TEACHING AND BEING ABLE
TO RUN HIS OWN BUSINESS.
I THINK THAT HE REALLY FELT
THAT HE WAS FREE.
Narrator: SILVERS' LIFE OF CRIME
SEEMS LIKE A DISTANT MEMORY.
ONE AFTERNOON, HE GETS
A SOBERING REALITY CHECK
WHILE SURFING THE WEB
AT HIS STORE.
Silvers:
I'D ACTUALLY LOOKED
ON "AMERICA'S MOST WANTED"
WEBSITE ONE DAY
AND FOUND MYSELF,
AND I WAS TERRIFIED
TO SEE MY PICTURE COME UP.
Narrator: THIS IS WHAT SILVERS
HAS BEEN DREADING.
Silvers:
MY HEART DROPS INTO MY STOMACH.
Narrator:
HE ANXIOUSLY LOOKS AROUND
TO SEE IF ANYONE
IS WATCHING HIM.
IF HIS REAL IDENTITY
IS DISCOVERED,
HE'LL BE HEADED BACK TO JAIL.
Narrator: OCTOBER 2003.
VERACRUZ, MEXICO.
FUGITIVE KERRY SILVERS HAS BEEN
ON THE RUN FOR 18 MONTHS.
WHILE SURFING THE INTERNET
AT HIS COMPUTER STORE,
SILVERS IS SHOCKED
TO SEE HIS FACE
POSTED ON THE
"AMERICA'S MOST WANTED" WEBSITE.
I WAS TERRIFIED
TO SEE MY PICTURE COME UP.
MAN, I ERASED
THE BROWSER HISTORY.
I DID EVERYTHING I COULD TO TRY
TO KEEP THEM FROM THINKING,
"WELL, WHO WOULD BE LOOKING UP
KERRY SILVERS IN MEXICO?"
Wojdylo: HE ACTUALLY TOLD ME
WHEN HE CAME BACK
THAT HE DID GET ON THE
"AMERICA'S MOST WANTED" WEBSITE
JUST TO SEE
IF HE WAS ACTUALLY WANTED
AND DID SEE HIS PICTURE ON THERE
AND VERY QUICKLY
GOT OFF THE WEBSITE
BECAUSE HE WAS AFRAID
THAT HE COULD BE TRACKED
OR THAT WE WOULD BE
TRACKING HITS ON THAT WEBSITE.
Narrator: ONE AFTERNOON,
SILVERS GETS AN UNEXPECTED VISIT
THAT IMMEDIATELY
PUTS HIM ON EDGE.
Silvers: THIS GUY SHOWS UP --
SUIT-AND-TIE-LOOKING GUY.
IS DAVID SCARPETTI HERE?
I THINK HE'S A COP.
I DON'T HAVE PERMISO.
I DON'T HAVE I.D.
I DON'T HAVE PASSPORT.
I AIN'T GOT NOTHING.
There's a guy outside.
I'M THINKING,
"I'M IN TROUBLE."
HI, CAN I HELP YOU?
MR. SCARPETTI?
YEAH.
Narrator: HE'S STARING
INTO THE FACE OF A STRANGER
WHO MAY BE A COP.
Silvers: COME TO FIND OUT
THIS GUY'S A HEAD
OF A NEW VOCATIONAL SCHOOL
IN THE COMMUNITY,
AND HE WANTS TO INVITE ME
TO TEACH ENGLISH CLASSES.
LOVE TO. YEAH.
WELCOME ABOARD.
I CAN CHARGE THE SAME
I'M CHARGING FOR THE
COMPUTER CLASSES,
BUT I'LL HAVE A WHOLE BUNCH
OF STUDENTS AT ONCE,
SO I'LL BE MAKING A LOT MORE
FOR MY MONEY.
Narrator:
SILVERS ACCEPTS THE JOB,
EVEN THOUGH HE KNOWS IT MAKES
HIM EVEN MORE RECOGNIZABLE.
Silvers:
THE LIFESTYLE I WAS LIVING
WAS COUNTERACTIVE
TO MY GOAL OF STAYING FREE.
YOU KNOW, I WAS LIKE ONE
OF THE MOST WELL-KNOWN PEOPLE
WITHIN PROBABLY 50 MILES,
WHICH IS NOT WHAT A FUGITIVE
WANTS TO DO.
Narrator: SILVERS MANAGES
TO STAY UNDER THE RADAR
AS A TEACHER FOR A FULL YEAR
WITHOUT BEING DETECTED.
THEN HE MAKES
ANOTHER CAREER MOVE,
WHICH HE HOPES WILL ALSO HELP
THROW ANY POLICE INVESTIGATIONS
OFF HIS TRAIL.
Silvers:
I HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO TEACH
IN THE LARGEST ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
IN THE STATE OF VERACRUZ,
WHICH IS IN
MARTíNEZ DE LA TORRE --
SOLD THE BUSINESS AND EVERYTHING
AND MOVED TO THE NEXT CITY OVER.
Narrator:
BACK IN THE U.S.,
AUTHORITIES ARE CLOSING IN
ON SILVERS.
THE INFORMATION PROVIDED
BY SILVERS' FORMER
BUSINESS ASSOCIATE
REVEALS A MONEY TRAIL THAT LEADS
DIRECTLY TO ISABELLE.
HOLA.
Silvers:
I WAS USING MY WIFE.
I'D HAVE TO HAVE HER
TO GO PICK UP THIS MONEY
WHILE I WAS IN MATAMOROS,
SO THEY TRACKED THAT NAME
TO HER NAME
THROUGH THOSE RECORDS --
WIRE TRANSFERS --
AND TRACKED HER TO HER HOMETOWN
IN VERACRUZ.
DE NADA.
Wojdylo: WE RELAYED
ALL OF THAT INFORMATION
TO OUR MEXICAN
FOREIGN FIELD OFFICE,
WHO WORK VERY CLOSELY
WITH THE MEXICAN GOVERNMENT,
AND THROUGH ADDITIONAL LEADS
THAT THEY FOLLOWED,
WE WERE ABLE TO NARROW
HIS LOCATION
TO A VERY SMALL COMMUNITY
CALLED MARTíNEZ DE LA TORRE
IN VERACRUZ.
Narrator: NOW THAT AUTHORITIES
KNOW WHERE SILVERS IS LIVING,
THEY'RE HOPING
HE'LL BE EASY TO SPOT.
Wojdylo: HE'S A WHITE MALE.
HE STOOD OUT IN MEXICO.
REGARDLESS OF WHERE HE WAS AT,
HE STOOD OUT.
AND ANYBODY WITHIN 50 MILES
WOULD HAVE INSTANTLY KNOWN
WHO'S THE AMERICAN.
Narrator: AUTHORITIES HAVE
ALMOST EVERY PIECE
OF THE PUZZLE IN PLACE.
ALL THAT'S LEFT TO DO
IS FIND SILVERS AND ARREST HIM.
Wojdylo:
WE SENT A DEPUTY U.S. MARSHAL,
WHO WAS FLUENT IN SPANISH,
DOWN TO OUR MEXICAN FOREIGN
FIELD OFFICE IN MEXICO CITY
TO PROVIDE
THAT TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE
TO THE MEXICAN GOVERNMENT.
THEY NARROWED HIM DOWN
TO A RENTAL PROPERTY
IN MARTíNEZ DE LA TORRE.
THEY HAD THAT RESIDENCE
UNDER SURVEILLANCE.
Narrator: SILVERS DOESN'T KNOW
THAT AUTHORITIES
HAVE TRACKED HIM
TO MARTíNEZ DE LA TORRE
AND PLAN TO TAKE HIM DOWN.
ON THE AFTERNOON
OF DECEMBER 15, 2004,
SILVERS STOPS
AT A LOCAL VIDEO STORE.
A TEAM OF MEXICAN FEDERALES
AND A U.S. MARSHAL
HAVE TAILED HIM TO THE STORE
AND ARE MONITORING HIM
JUST A FEW HUNDRED FEET AWAY.
SILVERS IS COMPLETELY UNAWARE
THAT THE POLICE
HAVE HIM SURROUNDED.
Narrator:
DECEMBER 15, 2004.
VERACRUZ, MEXICO.
FUGITIVE KERRY SILVERS HAS BEEN
ON THE RUN FOR 2 1/2 YEARS...
GET 'EM UP.
GET 'EM UP!
...FOLLOWING A DARING ESCAPE
FROM AN INDIANA JAIL.
HIS JOURNEY HAS TAKEN HIM
TO THE TINY TOWN
OF MARTíNEZ DE LA TORRE...
WHERE HE HAS A NEW IDENTITY
AND A SUCCESSFUL CAREER AS
A COMPUTER AND ENGLISH TEACHER.
IF YOU NEED ANY HELP,
JUST RAISE YOUR HAND.
Narrator:
UNFORTUNATELY FOR SILVERS,
U.S. AUTHORITIES
HAVE TRACKED HIS WHEREABOUTS,
AND HIS FREEDOM
IS COMING TO AN END.
Silvers: WHEN I PULL UP
TO THE VIDEO STORE,
I GET OUT, GO TO LOCK MY CAR UP,
AND THESE TWO GUYS BUM-RUSH ME.
[ SHOUTS IN SPANISH ]
Narrator: SILVERS IS
COMPLETELY TAKEN BY SURPRISE
AND TRIES TO RESIST.
Silvers: THEY GOT ME PINNED
UP AGAINST THE CAR,
AND SO I'M PUSHING MYSELF
OFF THE CAR
TRYING TO GET TURNED AROUND.
[ SHOUTING IN SPANISH ]
SUDDENLY, AN AMERICAN
COMES WALKING UP...
KERRY SILVERS,
WE KNOW WHO YOU ARE.
...AND SAYS, "DON'T RESIST.
THEY'LL SHOOT YOU."
AS SOON AS I HEARD HIS VOICE,
I STOPPED.
Narrator:
SILVERS IS TAKEN INTO CUSTODY.
YEAH, WE GOT SILVERS.
THE MEXICAN FEDERALES
IMMEDIATELY TURN SILVERS
OVER TO THE U.S. AUTHORITIES.
Wojdylo: HE WAS BACK
WITHIN 24 HOURS OF HIS CAPTURE.
THE MEXICAN GOVERNMENT
EXPELLED HIM IMMEDIATELY,
AND WE HAD THE INDIANA STATE
POLICE WAITING TO INTERVIEW HIM.
Dixon:
THEY CALLED AND LET US KNOW
WHEN HE'D BE TRANSPORTED
BACK TO INDIANAPOLIS
AND GAVE US THE OPPORTUNITY
TO COME UP FOR THE INTERVIEW.
Narrator: SILVERS ARRIVES
IN INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA,
AND EVENTUALLY GETS TRANSFERRED
TO THE PENDLETON CORRECTIONAL
FACILITY 25 MILES AWAY.
FIVE YEARS LATER,
HE'S STILL AWAITING TRIAL
ON ESCAPE CHARGES
FROM THE ORANGE COUNTY JAIL.
HE KNOWS HE BROKE THE LAW
BUT CLAIMS HE NEVER INTENDED
TO HURT ANYONE IN THE PROCESS.
Silvers: CLEARLY,
I'M GUILTY OF SOME THINGS.
I DON'T MIND ADMITTING
WHAT I DID,
AND I DON'T MIND
ADMITTING THAT I WAS WRONG,
REGARDLESS OF MY REASONS.
I'M NOT GUILTY OF WHAT
THEY'RE SAYING I'M GUILTY OF.
YOU KNOW, I MEAN, I CERTAINLY
NEVER TRIED TO KILL ANYBODY.
I'VE NEVER TRIED
TO KIDNAP ANYONE.
I'VE NEVER HURT ANYONE
OR TRIED TO.
I WAS TRYING TO GET AWAY
TO SAVE MYSELF.
Shepherd:
THERE WAS AN EXTRA SAFETY
ON THAT PARTICULAR WEAPON.
OR I'M GONNA KILL YOU
RIGHT HERE.
IF THERE HAD NOT BEEN
A SAFETY IN PLACE,
AND HE PULLED THE TRIGGER,
HE WOULD HAVE KILLED ME THEN.
Narrator:
SILVERS HAS EVERY INTENTION
OF APPEALING
HIS ORIGINAL 61-YEAR SENTENCE.
Silvers:
THAT'S A LIFETIME.
THAT'S NOT JUST
SOME EXTRA YEARS HERE OR THERE.
THAT'S TAKING A PUNISHMENT AND
TURNING IT INTO A LIFE SENTENCE.
I DON'T THINK THAT A PERSON'S
ENTIRE LIFE SHOULD BE DESTROYED
FOR A COUPLE YOUTHFUL ERRORS
THAT DIDN'T REALLY HURT ANYONE,
ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU KNOW
YOU'RE NOT A BAD PERSON
AND WHEN YOU KNOW
THAT YOU HAVE POTENTIAL
TO MAKE SOMETHING OF YOUR LIFE,
YOU KNOW, TO BE SUCCESSFUL
AND HELP PEOPLE.
Wojdylo: HE SPENDS A LOT OF TIME
IN THE LAW LIBRARIES,
AND HE ACTUALLY COUNSELS
OTHER PRISONERS
ON THE LEGAL ASPECTS
OF THEIR CASE.
I WOULD NOT BE SURPRISED AT ALL
IF HE WAS NOT ABLE TO PRODUCE
A FILING IN COURT
THAT OTHERWISE RESULTED
IN A DECREASE IN HIS SENTENCE.
Narrator:
INVESTIGATORS AGREE
THAT SILVERS IS NOT YOUR TYPICAL
HARDENED CRIMINAL.
BUT THEY BELIEVE HIS PUNISHMENT
IS WELL-DESERVED.
Dixon: HE'S DIFFERENT.
YOU'RE LOOKING AT MORE OR LESS
A WHITE-COLLAR CRIMINAL
WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT KERRY.
HE'S NOT ONE TO GET
HIS HANDS DIRTY, YOU KNOW.
HE'S GONNA MANIPULATE
SOMEBODY ELSE
INTO GETTING THEIR HANDS DIRTY
AND HIM PROSPER FROM IT.
Shepherd:
HE'S A DANGEROUS INDIVIDUAL
BECAUSE HE'S INTELLIGENT,
HE'S A PLANNER.
HE THINKS IT THROUGH.
Narrator:
KERRY SILVERS IS A CROOK
WHO TOOK THINGS TOO FAR
WHEN HE ESCAPED FROM JAIL.
HE ALMOST GOT AWAY WITH IT,
AND HE IS CONFIDENT
THAT HE WON'T SPEND THE REST
OF HIS LIFE BEHIND BARS.
I WILL BE FREE AGAIN,
AND I WON'T BE AN OLD MAN.
I'M CONVINCED.
Shepherd: HE DESERVES
A LENGTHY PRISON SENTENCE.
HE SPENT MOST OF HIS LIFE TRYING
TO MAKE HIS MONEY THE EASY WAY.
HE'S RESORTED TO CRIME
TO SUPPORT HIMSELF.
A LOT OF THOSE PEOPLE
DON'T CHANGE OVERNIGHT.
STAY DOWN, OLD MAN.